Australia claimed a surprise ODI series win – their first in the format in over two years – against India to give cause for cautious optimism within Australian ranks ahead of the World Cup.
A superb collective bowling performance in the fifth ODI at Delhi helped Australia defend 272 and ultimately take the series 3-2 having been 2-0 down, making them just the fifth team to successfully overturn a 2-0 series deficit in the history of the ODI game.
Pat Cummins, the de facto leader of the attack, continued his excellent form, ending with figures of 2-38 from his 10 overs. He was backed up commendably by the spin duo of Adam Zampa and Nathan Lyon, who combined to take 4-80 from 20 overs, while Jhye Richardson and Marcus Stoinis took a pair of wickets each in the 35-run victory.
Australia win the series 3-2!
A fantastic turnaround after finding themselves 2-0 down earlier in the series.
Having won just two of their last 21 ODIs at one point last year, they're finding form at the right time ahead of the World Cup.
#INDvAUS | #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/mO2c3jxkbR— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) March 13, 2019
The timing of Australian’s upturn in form, with a World Cup just over two months away, could hardly be better. Central to their improvement has been the increasingly fruitful returns of their top six batsmen. For Usman Khawaja in particular, this has been a hugely important series and one that has surely sealed his spot in Australia’s World Cup squad – the 32-year-old scored 383 runs in five innings and registered his first two ODI centuries.
Elsewhere, Peter Handscomb, who also provides an alternative option with the gloves, scored his maiden ODI century in Australia’s record chase of 358 in the fourth game of the series, while Ashton Turner showed his capabilities as a finisher with his 43-ball 84 in the same match.
ODI hundreds by Kohli, Dhawan and Sharma since the start of 2018: 19
ODI hundreds by all other Indian batsmen since the start of 2018: 1#OverReliance | #INDvsAUS | #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/ttrK6vxexY
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) March 13, 2019
Add David Warner and Steve Smith, whose bans end in a few weeks time, and Mitchell Starc – who is expected to regain fitness ahead of the World Cup – back into the mix, and Australia look like a force to be reckoned with. For Australia, the series win represents a remarkable improvement in fortunes. At one point in 2018 they had won just two of their past 21 ODIs. Now they can justifiably be regarded as one of the favourites for the World Cup.
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For India, on the receiving end of the series turnaround, this represents somewhat of a setback just months away of the World Cup. Their extraordinary over-reliance on the top three of Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli still remains. Since the start of 2018, that trio have hit 19 ODI hundreds between them with Ambati Rayudu – who averaged 11 with the bat in his three ODIs this series – the only other player to register a century in the format in that period. To have a realistic chance of winning the tournament, you’d think that India will need to place less of a burden on the shoulders of their top order.
