Somehow, from the depths of their prolonged period of mediocrity, Australia appear to have found their way in ODI cricket.
Consider this of their 3-2 series victory against India.
The series was the first time an Australian ODI outfit had won a five-match series after losing the first two games.
It was Australia’s first ODI series win in India since 2009.
And perhaps most importantly, it was the Australians’ first ODI series triumph since January 2017 – a 26-month drought in the 50-over format that had induced sheer panic when considering the prospects of Justin Langer’s men prospering at the World Cup come June.
But all that angst has swiftly diminished following the gripping contest in India.
After scrambling for the best part of a year to unearth a competitive top seven, the selectors now appear to have the best kind of problem leading into their last ODI campaign before the World Cup against Pakistan: a top order producing right at the opportune time, with exiled stars David Warner and Steve Smith still to fit back into a line-up that now looks to be balancing nicely.
Chief amongst this top-order revival has been Usman Khawaja, the player of the series against India solidifying his selection for England with a batting masterclass against Virat Kohli’s men.
Promoted to opening the batting with skipper Aaron Finch, the Test No.3 plundered 383 runs at 76 over the five matches, a run of form that registered two centuries and continually set a platform for the Australian innings.
He looked in control, completely unburdened from the disappointing home summer that had some questioning his position in the Test team.
His stroke play was immaculate at times, and his series strike rate of 88 showed a willingness and ability to continually rotate the strike.
He was ably supported by Peter Handscomb, another of the perceived red-ball specialists who were parachuted into the top order at the beginning of the year to offer stability.
Handscomb, too, produced a tour that has all but secured his place in the World Cup squad, his 236 runs at 47 proving vital in the victory over the hosts.
Peter Handscomb could combine with the returning Steve Smith in the middle order during the World Cup. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)
He looks to be the quintessential one-day batsmen – energetic at the crease, with the ability to work the ball to each part of the ground with ease.
His career in the Baggy Green may be momentarily halted, but he looks the part to anchor the Australian ODI middle order for years to come.
In saying that, his place in the World Cup line-up is far from certain, a testament to the sudden abundance of batting options.
The dynamic performance of Ashton Turner has made things even more complicated for the selectors.
The West Australian has bolted into squad contention with his extraordinary knock of 84 not out from 43 balls in Mohali to chase down with ease the 358 set by the Indians.
His ascension has already proved costly for Shaun Marsh. The veteran was dropped for the deciding fixture in Dehli after a poor series in which he totalled just 29 runs from his three matches.
Still, Australia’s best ODI batsmen of the past 12 months will be given ample opportunity against Pakistan to re-establish his dominate 50-over form, and his place in the World Cup squad is still looking likely.
Finch momentarily allayed doubts on his credentials with an assured 93 in Ranchi, however the significance of this was lessened with ducks in both Hyderabad and Mohali.
For now, his place appears secure, thanks in part to the lack of potential captains should he be moved aside.
From the bowling perspective, the form of Pat Cummins was exactly what the national hierarchy would have been hoping for.
Cummins was exceptional. His 14 wickets in the series came at an average of just 15.
Likewise Adam Zampa, who looks to have now nailed down the No.1 spinner role.
Whilst expensive at times, his 11 wickets across the five matches were more than enough to sway the series in favour of the Australians.
His 3/46 in Dehli, in particular, was crucial to securing the deciding match for his country.
Jhye Richardson continues to go from strength to strength, with his eight wickets in the series enhancing his fine form in the ODI format in 2019.
The young West Australian has now taken 14 wickets at an average of 20 this year in ODIs, and is now firming as an integral squad member for the World Cup.
With neither Mitchell Starc nor Josh Hazelwood available for the Pakistan series, another selection headache looms in determining who will form part of the pace gang entrusted to deliver on the English decks.
But given how far Australia had fallen in ODI cricket, these are all good dilemmas for this group.
With a bit over two months until cricket’s premier competition, Australia – unbelievably – appear to be back in the one-day game.
Paul
Roar Guru
I think he and S Mash are probably playing for one spot, James. That means BOTH should get an equal chance to show what they can do, though Marsh has to be favourite, simply because of the runs he's previously made in ODI's in England. He'd REALLY have to bat badly and, as you say, Turner would have bat out of his skin, to make the tour.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Okay, replace 'grossly unfair' with 'risky'. If Khawaja or Handscomb has a bad run then Marsh is the only other player who has demonstrated over the last 12 months that he can reliably play the stabilising role. Warner and Smith have been capable of it in the past but there are no guarantees they'll be able to reproduce those kinds of innings straight away. I think the selectors will still see Marsh as the insurance, provided that he doesn't stink it up in the UAE.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Turner will need a strong showing in the UAE. At the moment he's probably outside the 15 so he needs to force his way in.
Emuarse
Roar Rookie
>jamesH, Forget about "grossly unfair". This is a world championship, where if the selectors don't get it spot on, then it's a fast journey for the team to the airport for the trip home. You have to pick the form team, and if Marsh is not 'in form', then he doesn't get selected. I actually think Marsh would be the first to appreciate that.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hi Paul. Interesting homework there. Thanks for that.
Tom Harrington
Roar Rookie
Think he will definitely be in the squad, Paul, although I don't know how exactly you fit him into the best XI. A middle order of Maxwell, Stoinis and Turner looks quite good, that would mean Handscomb taking the gloves though which I cant see happening. Will be fascinating to see which way they go with it.
Paul
Roar Guru
The obvious solution is to leave out Carey, but that seems to be one of those "done deals" that completely screws up the balance of the side. The jury's still out on Turner for me, only because 3 games is a way too small sample size, but he should make the squad, simply so he CAN be considered. He's not going to increase that sample size by sitting in Australia watching the WC on the tele and who knows he might just prove me wrong and win us crucial games as he did in India.
Paul
Roar Guru
hmmmmm.... I wonder of having Stoinis in the team in place of Marsh would make a difference? I suspect both with bat & ball, he'd be a more telling contributor, especially if we had to get 400. If he's there and we have the rest of the lineup you named, I'd leave the top 3 bats where they are, have Maxwell at 4, Carey at 5, Stoinis at 6 then Smith, Carey, etc. My hope would be the side could bat around Khawaja, who is no slouch himself. He'd need to bat through 50 overs if at all possible and have made say 150 at a run a ball. This would give the rest of these hitters the task of scoring 250 off 150, which should be gettable if they're in form.
JamesH
Roar Guru
As raw as he is, Turner is at least someone other than Maxwell who has the ability to explode at the death without chewing up too many balls first. Having him at 6 or 7 gives Australia the freedom to bat Maxwell higher if they want, knowing that there's still acceleration to come if he gets out. My concern, though, is that Turner won't even make the final squad. There are only 15 spots available. Assuming we have four pure pacemen, two pure spinners and Carey, that leaves 8 batting spots. This is my personal view on the (rough) order of batsmen most to least likely to be selected in the squad: Finch (c) Maxwell Stoinis Warner Khawaja Handscomb Smith Marsh Turner I'm not convinced the selectors will make the big call to leave Smith or Marsh out of the squad. It would also be grossly unfair on Marsh, who held the side together prior to the tour of India.
JamesH
Roar Guru
No, I really don't. Firstly, even in big chases you still tend to get one or two guys being dismissed cheaply, no matter how talented your lineup is. Secondly, if Warner had batted well at the top with Khawaja then Marsh/Smith, Handscomb and (critically) Turner would probably have come to the crease much later than they did. The overall score doesn't necessarily improve just because you add Warner and Smith. Thirdly, teams pace their chase. The shadow of a 400-plus score would almost certainly have caused Australia to take more risks early in their innings. That's as likely to lead to a collapse as it is to result in a score better than the 359 they got. Fourthly, as Chris K said below, only once in history has a team ever successfully chased a 400+ total. Australia has only ever scored 400 twice - in fact, it has only ever scored 380+ twice - and one of those occasions was against Afghanistan. There is nothing in this team's semi-recent history which says they would be capable of chasing down 400.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Look that may be true that no one scores 400 and I think any team is going to need some luck against Cummins, Starc, Richo and Zampa to score 400. That said, I think I’d be pissed if we get to the semis and someone does manage it, and we don’t have a lineup that can chase it, when that lineup was available. I hope I’m wrong, and Finch finds some form against Pakistan, but if India, or England have 400 on the board and The following line up comes out to bat, I will have no confidence right now that we can win. 1. Finch. 2. Warner. 3. Khawaja. 4. Smith. 5. S Marsh. 6. Maxwell. 7. Carey. 8. Cummins. 9. Starc. 10. Richo. 11. Zampa. I think this is a very likely lineup that the selectors would like to have in most games. Something look familiar? Not much different to the teams that have been unsuccessfully trying to win games over the past few years. Leaving Handscomb in his current form, and Stoinis with his big hitting ability, out of that side is a mistake IMO.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Why wouldn’t we chase down 400 with that line up? We had finch scoring a duck and Marsh scoring 6 to make 359 with 13 balls to spare. Swapping Warner in for Finch and Smith in for Marsh in that same team, you don’t think we could squeeze another 40 runs out in the same scenario? Of course that’s all on Warner and Smith returning somewhere close to their best.
AREH
Roar Guru
Random Shield update as the last round commences; Pattinson wreaking havoc in the morning session against SA; boy is this nice to see again. Bancroft missing out at the WACA and yet another half-century for Dan Hughes as NSW start well after being sent in.
Ouch
Roar Rookie
Like that line-up though I reckon SMarsh should be give first crack at 4 considering how well he played in 2018.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Turner can do what no one other than Maxwell and Stoinis can. We need a 3rd power hitter in the middle order. I'd go with the same team as Chris Love, though batting in a slightly different order. I would like to see Maxwell at 3 though, or opening for that matter. Finch cannot be there, and Carey isn't good enough in any of the batting spots. We have better options.
Paul
Roar Guru
Tom, I'm curious to know why you'd include Turner in a side after only 3 ODIs? His 84no was a brilliant knock for sure, but was it enough to make him a certainty for the best XI? He deserves a spot in the squad and it would be great if he would bowl and bowl well, but selectors aren't especially brave and I can't see him being part of our best XI unless he really performs exceptionally - always assuming he gets the chances to show what he can do
James
Roar Rookie
Chris, I don't agree with your suggestion that we have to score 400 to have a chance. Yes some teams are capable of running up those numbers in meaningless one day matches and I daresay some of the weaker nations may cop some huge totals. But I believe when the big moments come that scores of 400 will not happen. A well selected line up of bowlers is a must. To win the World Cup, your bowling has to be on song and the captaincy has to be proactive not reactive. Cummins, Jhye Richardson and Adam Zampa are improving. Zampa has to be trusted by the captain and not interchanged with Lyon. Starc, if fit, is a key to our hopes. That leaves the 5th bowler. Stoinis, Maxwell and Finch to share? That would be my choice.
Paul
Roar Guru
Chris, I had a look at the numbers posted by England at home in their ODI's since Jan 2017 and in more than 20 games, they passed 350 twice. i'll predict no side will pass 400 this tournament. We will have the top 10 ODI nations playing, all of whom have at least one world class bowler. If pitches are flat and the weather's good, for sure sides will get well over 300, but bowling quality is high in this tournament
Ouch
Roar Rookie
Defending champions with several players who have already won it and who are proven performers at a World Cup.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Sorry Mr Kettlewell, was meaning exactly scores of 400, just the scores much higher then the average scores. Or maybe just the attitude/history of being a strong chaser of the ‘bigger’ scores.