Looking to recover: Subdued Aussies seek turnaround in ODIs

Visitors face Sri Lanka in first one-dayer today after 3-0 whitewash in Tests

COLOMBO: Australia will look to restore some battered pride when they begin their one-day series against Sri Lanka today, hoping that some fresh blood can help reverse a string of defeats on a miserable tour.

Days after losing their title as the world’s top Test team, the reigning champions in 50-over cricket will be determined to stop the rot when they take to the field in the first of five ODIs against an upbeat Sri Lanka.

Angelo Mathews’ side completed a 3-0 series whitewash over the tourists on Wednesday when they won the final Test in Colombo by 163 runs, a result which led to Australia being toppled by India at the top of the rankings.



Australian captain Steve Smith admitted they had been totally outclassed after failing to come to terms with the turning Sri Lankan wickets, both with bat and ball.

While Smith remains at the helm of the ODI side, the squad will be bolstered by one-day specialists such as all-rounders Aaron Finch and James Faulkner, along with young spinner Adam Zampa.

Mitchell Marsh, who was earlier named in the ODI squad, was released after the Test series and his place in the starting line-up is expected to be taken by another all-rounder Moises Henriques.



While coach Darren Lehmann Lehmann said his side were building towards next year’s Champions Trophy in England, he acknowledged the need to produce some immediate results to lift morale.

“The Champions Trophy is the carrot,” said Lehmann ahead of the opener at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium. “But at the end of the day we want to win a game in Sri Lanka for a start, so that’s probably prime importance for us, and to play well.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2016.

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