How Australia can turn their ODI fortunes around against their neighbours

How do they turn it around?

Maxwell has the ability to destroy oppositions

Australia need to start picking teams with consistency. But since the teams are already selected, we are not dwelling on it further. They will have to make do with the squad in hand. That said, there are things they can start changing and here is a look at some of them.

#1 The role of Glenn Maxwell

Maxwell has been brought back into the ODI setup and Australia need to start using him wisely. He is a game changer without a shadow of a doubt. To use his skills at no.6 is a waste of a prodigious talent who can win games single-handedly. Australia need to bat Maxwell at 4 or 5 and bring in Bailey, well capable of finishing an innings in fine fashion below him.

#2 Complementing Starc and Hazlewood

So often in the year, Australia have seen oppositions play out the opening spell by Starc and Hazlewood and feast on their weaker bowlers with ease. What they need is a good backup for the duo. They had Hastings and should have picked him, but since he isn't here, Cummins has to be that 3rd seamer. While Marsh is a decent bowler in helpful conditions, he varies his lines too much to find success.

#3 Carrying on starts

They need to convert the starts that David Warner or Steven Smith invariably provide and turn them into huge totals. While Bailey, Maxwell, Head and Marsh are capable of that, they have rarely performed their duties to perfection. The batting needs to beef up after Warner and Smith and unless that happens the huge totals will not be scaled.

#4 The captaincy

Steven Smith has looked confused and uninspiring in his captaincy, fading off in comparison to Faf several times in the series. His usage of spinners have been questionable and his ability to tweak plans in the midst of games have come in for heavy criticism. Smith needs to put on his thinking cap and innovate and mix things around to get the best out of a rather good group of players.

#5 Using Adam Zampa

Zampa is one good leg spinner Australia have since Shane Warne's retirement. He has the right variations and a lot of control for a young spinner. But using him aptly is important. He needs to be used as an attacking option and not as a defensive one if Smith needs to bring out the best in this leggie.

DhonI showed a good example of that in the IPL where he used Zampa perfectly. Smith would have seen that from close quarters being on the same team and could take a leaf out of Dhoni's captaincy book.