In the space of three months Australia has completely turned around its prospects of defending its World Cup title.
From mid-2017 until March this year, Australia won just four of its 26 ODIs.
The nadir during that period was a 5-nil loss to England in England in June last year.
Twelve months on, Aaron Finch’s side is back in Britain and it is a very different story this time around.
The turnaround started in India in March when the side came from 2-nil down to win the series by claiming the last three matches.
It was a comeback of epic proportions in a country where Australia has suffered inordinate disappointments.
The momentum was carried on to the UAE with an historic 5-nil clean sweep over Pakistan.
In the space of 23 days, Australia had won twice as many ODIs as it had in the previous 21 months.
It will be looking to extend its eight-game winning streak when it commences its World Cup campaign against Afghanistan at Cardiff on Saturday.
A squad that appeared in tatters a few months ago is now on the third line of betting behind England and India.
Australia’s about turn was achieved without the services of its two premier batsmen, Steve Smith and David Warner.
David Warner and Steve Smith (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
The pair are back after their 12-month suspensions and both have shown in recent times that their talents have not been blunted by their exile.
Warner arrived in England on the back of a destructive IPL campaign where he scored 692 runs at 69.2 in 12 innings for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Smith has reintegrated in style with 394 runs at 131 in his five warm-up matches ahead of last night’s final pre-tournament hit-out.
Warner’s return provides a conundrum as to who will comprise the opening partnership.
In his absence, Usman Khawaja partnered Finch at the top of the order and did so with aplomb.
The come-from-behind triumph in India was largely predicated on Khawaja’s batting as he reeled off scores of 104, 91 and 100 in the last three games.
He continued his rich vein of form in the UAE with 272 runs at 54.4.
Finch returned to form with a bang in the UAE with 451 runs at 112.7 on the back of two centuries, one a commanding unbeaten 153.
Aaron Finch of Australia bats. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
He will definitely be one of the openers at Bristol.
There are strong arguments for either Warner or Khawaja to partner him.
In the pre-tournament practice matches both left-handers have shared the top of the order with their skipper.
Khawaja even found himself at number five against England in the warm-up game at Southampton.
Warner was rested from last night’s final warm-up match against Sri Lanka with reports suggesting he was suffering from tightness in his thigh.
He is expected to be fit for Saturday.
Regardless of how Australia structures its batting it will field a healthy balance of heavy hitters and accumulators.
While the focus has been on the return of Smith and Warner and the undeniable recent form of Khawaja one man who could have a big say in Australia’s fortunes is Shaun Marsh.
He was a beacon during the humiliating five-nil series loss in England last year with two centuries.
He also averaged 60.7 in the UAE.
Glenn Maxwell is likely to be a floater with an injection up the order likely at times during the World Cup should Australia get off to a flyer.
Australia’s Glenn Maxwell. (Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
If recent ODI series in England are anything to go by we are likely to see numerous high-scoring matches.
After the first match of the England-Pakistan ODI series earlier this month was declared a no result, the remaining four matches featured seven innings in excess of 340 runs.
Barren pitches, a white ball with minimal seam and short boundaries will all conspire against the bowlers.
We are likely to see plenty of spin throughout the tournament with Australia flagging the possibility of playing both Adam Zampa and Nathan Lyon in tandem in some games.
Wrist-spin has proven to be a valuable commodity in both forms of white ball cricket in recent times and the prospect of Zampa’s attacking nature from one end allied to Lyon’s more defensive mindset from the other could prove valuable.
The x-factor for Australia could well be Mitchell Starc.
When Australia lifted the trophy four years ago it was on the back of a stellar tournament by Starc.
At that time he was the most feared ODI bowler in the game with his combination of withering pace and late swing a handful for many teams.
If he can reclaim some of his best form, in concert with Pat Cummins. Australia will have two potent strike weapons.
The pressure heading into this tournament rests on the shoulders of England, a country yet to win the World Cup.
The host nation has been undefeated in its past 11 bilateral ODI series and has won its last eight series at home.
Since the last World Cup, England has had a 66 per cent winning record, the best of any nation.
But tournaments are not won in the lead-in.
Between World Cups Australia has endured a 49 per cent winning record but the team is peaking at the right time.
A few months ago they did not appear in the frame for a sixth title.
There is still much work to be done but the momentum is there.
Vinay marwyn dsouza
Guest
Indeed
Brian
Guest
They have to pick Stoinis. Otherwise bowling is too thin. Bigger problem is Finch and his front foot. Top 4 should be Warner, Khawaja, Marsh, Smith but it would be a big call and Cummins would need to captain.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
The squad was in tatters according to the media. Selectors and team still had plans. Australia has experience at using 3 & 3/4 years to build a team around their new plans for the game. Meanwhile England implements Australia's game plan from 2 years ago. It's true that building a squad for your own game plan is the ultimate aim, but you still need a plan and players to cope with an opponent who has a day out, or losing the toss with weather intervening. Otherwise you're South Africa whining that Duckworth - Lewis cost them a tournament. No, it cost them a game, their inability to adapt in a tournament cost them the Cup, more than once. England has a good squad, so does Australia. Which ever team in the tournament reacts and adapts best with full squad contributions will be rewarded. Looking forward to the Aussies peaking at the end.
BBA
Guest
For what its worth I don't think we will have learnt a lot after the first two rounds, given it is a round robin nobody is eliminated or has qualified after two rounds. Over nine matches you are going to have good luck / bad luck, conditions that suit or don't suit you. If history has anything to say about it, aggressive tactics will be a good way to get to the semis however its all mental from there.
Jake
Guest
1. FINCH 2. STOINIS 3. WARNER 4. SMITH SIMPLES
josh
Roar Rookie
Have we been playing on different pitches? 'Cause has The Grade Cricketer boys have pointed out we are playing very 1999, so far in the warm-up games. Even the un-official warm up with the west indies in someone's backyard failed to live up to the run fest it promised on paper. Cricket is a funny game.
jameswm
Roar Guru
The most even now, but let's wait till everyone's played a couple of games, and see if it still looks even. Could England crash and burn with their all or nothing approach?
jameswm
Roar Guru
I only watched a little of Starc, but he didn't seem to be swinging the new ball much. He is good with the old ball though. I'd say everyone's in good to very good form bar Stoinis. Warner hasn't gone so well in 5-0 over games, but he showed in the IPL the form and eye are most certainly there, and it feels more like a matter of when with him. I still think we should open with Khawaja and finch, Warner and Smith at 3 and 4. And I also think we should have Turner there insted of Richardson. We didn't need 5 quicks. 4 was ample, especially when we may even play 2 spinners 2 quicks some games. If you weren't to pick Stoinis then: - you'd need another power hitter, ie Turner. Carey could even bat at 5 with Maxwell and Turner at 6 and 7. That was a poor selection call, but the only one - You need 6-10 overs from Maxwell, then maybe 2 or 3 from Smith and Finch. It's a risk in case one of your 5 bowlers gets hurt or gets hit around, but if they get hit around you just bring them on later. They have to be good enough to come back from that, or they wouldn't be there. Jye Richardson is a loss, he'd be my 3rd quick. And he can bowl anywhere.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Regardless of how Australia structures its batting it will field a healthy balance of heavy hitters and accumulators. I actually don't think this is the case at all Glenn. Khawaja is not a hitter. Finch was once upon a time, but has turned into more of an "accumulator". If S Marsh plays he is definitely not a hitter. Smith can hit a bit when he gets going, but again, he's not a "hitter". Warner could be, but he's been a bit out of sorts since returning to the AUS line up. Stoinis is struggling to just hit the ball in general right now, so I'm not sure about labelling him a "hitter". Carey is stepping it up and might end up doing a fine job for us, but it's early days. The only "hitter" in this line up is Maxwell. Compared to 2015 when we had Faulkner at 8 and a more explosive Warner/Finch, plus the ever capable Watson, we're distinctly lacking in hitters, especially compared to England and to a lesser degree India.
Spanner
Roar Rookie
True mbp but if you can just play well enough through the round robin stages to make the finals, the pressure of the occasion then cancels out small ovals, seamless balls, crowds etc. History has shown us that !
mbp
Guest
its a shame about them using small seamed balls.... short boundaries and flat tracks conspiring against bowlers. not really fair for teams with strong strike force bowling line ups like australia, pakistan and south affrica. the flat tracks will really suit england and india and will bring new zealand into the contest. it was always going to happen this world cup with england and india ruling the international cricket board. they want to give there teams as big an advantage as possible and play to their strengths.
BBA
Guest
Teams get hot and cold in cricket very quickly. Australia has just as good a chance as any of the leading countries. If you get through the round robin you win two games and the title is yours. This is the most even WC I can remember in years. You can make up a reason for and against for any of the top 6-8 teams.
bigbaz
Roar Guru
There was always going to be an upside to the suspensions, we are now seeing it.