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Is there light at the end of Australia's ODI tunnel?

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Expert
14th January, 2019
20

Tonight at Adelaide, time will tell if the Aaron Finch-led Australians can clinch their first ODI series in two years.

Their shock 32-run win over India at the SCG in the first of three one-dayers was a pleasant change from the norm.

In the last two years, the defending world champions have crashed from undisputed world number one to sixth, having won just four decided ODIs in 22.

In January 2017, New Zealand won the series 2-1.

In June 2017, England won 1-0.

In September 2017, India won 4-1.

In January 2018, England won 4-1.

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In June 2018, England won 5-0.

In November 2018, South Africa won 2-1.

In total, opposition 18, Australia 4 – how the mighty have fallen, with lack of runs the problem.

Let’s compare lineups, kicking off with the start of the drought – Eden Park 2017.

Steve Smith was ruled out of the tour with an ankle injury, and David Warner was rested.

The lineup – Finch (56-c), Shaun Marsh (22), Peter Handscomb (0), Travis Head (53), Glenn Maxwell (0), Marcus Stoinis a career high 146*, James Faulkner (0), Pat Cummins (27), Mitchell Starc (29), Adam Zampa (1), and Josh Hazlewood (4) – Australia lost by six runs.

Compare that to the lineup that went down by 34 runs to South Africa at Hobart in November 2017.

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Aaron Finch

Aaron Finch of Australia – CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images)

Chris Lynn (0), Finch (11-c), Shaun Marsh (106), Head (6), Stoinis (63), Alex Carey (42), Maxwell (35), Cummins (7*), Starc (0), Zampa (0), Hazlewood (0).

And to the last ODI at the SCG, the Australians won by 34.

Carey (24), Finch (6-c), Usman Khawaja (59), Shaun Marsh (54), Handscomb (73), Stoinis (47*), Maxwell (11*), Jhye Richardon (DNB), Nathan Lyon (DNB), Peter Siddle (DNB), Jason Behrendorff (DNB).

Over that two-year period covering 22 decided ODIs, batsmen Finch, Shaun Marsh, Stoinis, and Maxwell appeared in all three examples, Handscomb, Head, and Carey in two, Lynn and Khawaja in one each – hardly any movement despite loss after loss after loss.

Yet the current side could beat India, ranked world number two, with no Smith and Warner under suspension, leaving big guns Lynn, and D’Arcy Short, out of the squad, and selecting Mitchell Marsh who can’t buy a run with Siddle ending an eight-year selection drought at 34.

Go figure.

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Thanks to the masterful way Cricket Australia has stuffed up the season’s scheduling, the only criteria to selecting 50-over ODI squads is via the 20-over Big Bash League.

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But runs are currency in any format.

Lynn, and Short, have both been at their dynamic best in January.

Heat skipper Lynn has cracked 84 off 55, 54 off 30, and 66* off 44, for a strike rate of 158.13, with a total of 10 fours, and 13 sixes.

Hurricanes opener Short has fired with 64 off 42, and last night an unbeaten 96 off 57 for a strike rate of 161.61, with 13 fours and seven sixes.

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Australian cricketer D'Arcy Short plays a shot

D’Arcy Short. (Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty Images)

Yet they can’t be recognised, while Mitchell Marsh, and skipper Finch, who can’t buy runs at any price are in the mix.

Despite those shortcomings, and selection bungles, Australia has the chance tonight to end the rubbish, and return to the series winning mode.

In a perfect world the team would be Short and Khawaja to open, Shaun Marsh at three, Lynn four, Maxwell five, Handscomb (c) with the gloves at six, Stoinis at seven, and Finch carrying drinks.

But that’s not possible.

In the real world, Australia can wrap up the series on the proviso Khawaja opens the batting with Carey, Shaun Marsh bats three, Handscomb four, Maxwell five, Stoinis six, and Finch seven.

The rest of the order, along with the attack, looks after itself with the exception of Billy Stanlake replacing Siddle.

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Let the drought be broken.

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