How Australia can turn their ODI fortunes around against their neighbours
As New Zealand visit Australia for three innocuous ODI matches, the World is keen to watch India take on England. Add to that the hype of the day-night Test Australia are taking part in against Pakistan a few weeks later. The ODI series is irrelevant to the cricketing world and is snubbed like any meaningless bilateral ODI series usually is.
Yet, Australia go into this series with a point to prove. They had been whitewashed by the Proteas, their first ever such loss in a five-match ODI series. They might have won in Lanka but they were far from convincing and their disastrous Test campaign was highlighted so much that the ODI series remained in the shadows.
The year thus far
In 2016, Australia have won all the ODI series they have taken part in except the series against the Proteas on their home turf. There, they did not have the services of two phenomenal modern day bowlers, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
Yet, something about them is missing. The world is familiar with the Australian juggernaut of the late 90s and early 2000s, sides that rarely scrapped for victories. Even rarer was a meek succumb to a familiar foe.
Also read: Australia vs New Zealand 2016: 5 players to watch out for
The series against South Africa came after a win against Lanka under Warner. As Smith took over, Australia had no clue how to deal with South Africa's ruthless batting, even in the absence of AB de Villiers. Even Hashim Amla wasn't picked for a couple of matches as Rilee Rossouw, David Miller and Quinton de Kock displayed a new look approach in South Africa's batting. Australia and their newbie bowlers had no answers.