A pair of Australian greats have urged the team to select Marnus Labuschagne over Marcus Stoinis for Thursday's World Cup semi-final against South Africa.
Australia is expected to name both Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell for the semi-final. It will be the first time the pair are both fit since the October 28 clash against New Zealand, leaving Labuschagne and Stoinis fighting for one spot in the middle order.
Two-time World Cup-winning skipper Ricky Ponting revealed that Australia seems to prefer Stoinis, given his all-round capabilities, but wondered if that is the right choice.
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"If Steve Smith had passed his fitness test (against Afghanistan), which he didn't, then Labuschagne was the one missing out and Stoinis was staying in the side," Ponting said on commentary.
"So I think at the moment Australia feel that is their strongest team, without Labuschagne in it.
"But if you actually look at the numbers through this series, he hasn't done a bad job, second leading run-scorer … and I know the most important phase for Australia through this tournament they haven't got right yet is their middle order batting. They haven't got that right and they need to fix that quickly.
"If you're going to win the World Cup, you're going to have to fix those overs 11 to 40, because so far in the tournament they've lost 12 more wickets in that period of time in the tournament than what India have through the whole tournament, India have only lost 20 wickets through that phase."
Labuschagne has 286 runs at an average of 35.75 through eight innings so far at the World Cup, with Stoinis managing just 87 at an average of 21.75 in five innings.
Stoinis' strike rate of 112.98 is far superior to Labuschagne's 77.08, which is the lowest of Australia's established top six.
Stoinis hasn't enjoyed great success with the ball in India either, picking up just four wickets in six matches at an average of 35.75 and an economy rate of 7.52.
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Shane Watson, who played in Australia's winning campaigns in 2007 and 2015, said Labuschagne could be needed for a potential chase under lights at Eden Gardens.
"He's someone who has done a very good job for Australia throughout this World Cup, and as well Marcus Stoinis hasn't set this World Cup alight yet," Watson said.
"What we've seen in this World Cup, is if Australia end up batting second in a semi-final, that period with those two new balls swinging around, you do need your best technically equipped batters who can handle that moving ball.
"Marnus Labuschagne, with the Test skills, he's got the ability to be able to handle a moving ball. There is a chance that Australia will have to bat second under lights, and he's done a very good job of that throughout this tournament."
Watson and Ponting's comments come after former Australian captain Mark Taylor also vouched for Labuschagne to be included over Stoinis in the semi-final side.
Australia will face South Africa in the World Cup semi-final on Thursday evening with the first ball set for 7.30pm AEDT at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
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