So in the northern Indian capital of Dehradun, against the backdrop of a horrid run in ODI cricket, Australia will begin the journey to defend their 2015 World Cup triumph.
Whichever way you attempt to describe the recent fortunes of the Australian ODI outfit, one word continually seems to resonate: abysmal.
A once mighty force in the 50-over format, Aaron Finch and his men have now lost their last six ODI series.
Perhaps more alarming is their overall win-loss record since their last triumphant series in January of 2017, a 4-19 ledger that serves to illustrate the depths to which the canary yellows have sunk.
Can Australia defend their World Cup title? (Photo by Michael Dodge – CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images)
A consistent theme during this swell of mediocrity has been a batting line-up unable to post, or chase, any totals of significance.
Finch and co have recorded a score above 300 only three times since the beginning of 2018. England – the World Cup favourites – conversely, have achieved the feat on ten occasions, their world record 481 against Australia in Nottingham last June a testament to the all out attacking mantra adopted by Eoin Morgan’s men.
This all-out attack with the bat is now the new way in the 50-over game, a trend that Australia have been unwilling, or unable to adopt.
Much like the Test team, the ODI unit have also felt the absence of both Steve Smith and David Warner, with the constant re-shuffling of the top order since the beginning of their elongated bans having failed to unearth a bankable batting unit.
Last year in particular saw fourteen different players deployed in the top seven, a trial that was deemed ineffective with the recent inclusions of Test batsmen Usman Khawaja and Pete Handscomb to seemingly steady the underperforming line-up.
West Australian Ashton Turner, a first-time squad member, has also been included for the Indian series, as has D’Arcy Short, who having been named player of the series in BBL|08, gets a reprieve from selectors as cover for father-to-be Shaun Marsh.
Marsh, surprisingly enough, has been the one bright note in ODI cricket of recent times, his scintillating run since the mid-point of last year producing four centuries in his last nine matches, a purple patch that has all but booked his ticket to England.
It is a run of form that selectors would love to see replicated by Finch, the skipper having sunken into an inconsistent patch in one-day cricket following his brief occupation as a Test opener.
Despite posting a healthy average of 44 with three centuries last year in ODI cricket, his last eleven innings has seen him pass 50 just once, a worrying drop that has contributed heavily to a lack of production at the top of the order.
Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell will form the brunt of the middle order hitting, the latter’s demotion to number seven still a cause of intrigue for some.
What will add further intrigue is the manner to which the powers that be deploy Maxwell against the Indians. If they will remain resolute in their commitment to utilise his abilities as a late over hitter, or if they will adopt a more flexible approach in assessing the given match situation to determine his place in the order.
Things are looking up for Australia’s Glenn Maxwell. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
The bowling brigade entrusted to lead the World Cup push also appear less than settled just months away from the first fixture against Afghanistan.
The big three Test pacemen of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazelwood will all undoubtedly be present in the World Cup squad, however the remaining bowling options are far from certain.
The roll call of bowlers trialled outside of the three NSW quicks since the beginning of last year is an extensive one. Andrew Tye, Jhye Richardson, Billy Stanlake, Kane Richardson, Ashton Agar, Adam Zampa, Michael Neser, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Nathan Lyon, Jason Behrendorff and Peter Siddle have all been given a crack at cementing a place within the ODI set-up, with none having forced the selectors’ hands to pencil them in for a squad berth.
Zampa will most likely be given first opportunity against Virat Kohli’s side to nail down the spinning role, as will Jhye Richardson as one of the seamers, the new kid on the block having impressed against India earlier this year, as his propensity to swing the ball will undoubtedly be viewed favourably given the impending English conditions.
The hope will be, too, that Cummins can prolong his outstanding summer in this series, and establish a base for a devastating few months in ODI cricket.
But the clock is ticking for Justin Langer’s team. Another five match series against Pakistan awaits following their Indian sojourn, another opportunity to right their white ball wrongs.
The sense is however, that if this Australian team are any chance of lifting the trophy at Lord’s, that a successful series against Kohli’s men must be had.
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