Australia has restored some pride after securing a consolation victory in Wednesday evening’s dead rubber against India in Rajkot to break a five-match losing streak.
Pat Cummins’ men, boosted by the return of Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell, clinched a 66-run win over the hosts at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, with each member of Australia’s top four passing fifty.
However, a lack of wickets in the Powerplay and an unreliable middle order remain glaring issues for the Australians ahead of their World Cup campaign, which gets underway next week.
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DAVID WARNER – 8
161 runs at 53.66
Warner has achieved the rare feat of passing fifty in three consecutive knocks for the first time in his ODI career.
The veteran left-armer took advantage of the Powerplay’s field restrictions in India, scoring at a blistering strike rate of 127.77 throughout the series.
However, Warner was removed between 52 and 56 in all three matches, while two of his dismissals were needlessly careless.
MITCHELL MARSH – 7
100 runs at 50.00
Marsh has once again proven he’s capable of replacing Travis Head at the top of the order in the World Cup, cracking a belligerent 96 in the series finale against India.
After copping a gorgeous outswinger from Mohammed Shami in Friday’s first ODI, the West Australian redeemed himself by slapping 13 boundaries and three sixes in Rajkot.
However, it remains to be seen whether Marsh’s bowling will make an appearance during the World Cup.
Marsh falls just short of superb ton | 02:49
STEVE SMITH – 7
115 runs at 38.33
It was a topsy-turvy series for Smith, who has thankfully returned from a frustrating wrist injury.
After being dismissed for his first golden duck at international level since January 2017, the New South Welshman bounced back in the series finale with an eye-catching 74 (61) in Rajkot.
Australia’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cup semi-finals heavily rests on Smith’s form over the coming six weeks.
MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE – 7
138 runs at 46.00
Destiny is now out of Labuschagne’s hands after another impressive ODI campaign for the Queenslander, who has given national selectors plenty to ponder ahead of the World Cup.
The right-hander scored a busy 72 in the series finale in Rajkot, while his series strike rate of 100.00 was particularly reassuring.
However, Labuschagne couldn’t convert any of his starts into substantial scores against India, and the 29-year-old may not have done enough to squeeze into Australia’s finalised 15-player World Cup squad.
Marnus bamboozled by unlucky dismissal | 01:28
JOSH INGLIS – 5
51 runs at 25.50
Inglis was given another couple of opportunities to push his case for World Cup selection in India, but the West Australian looks destined to spend the campaign on the bench.
The right-hander cracked an impressive 45 (45) in the series opener, but couldn’t back it up with a notable score in the second ODI in Indore, trapped on the pads in single figures.
Hopefully Inglis won’t just be tasked with carrying drinks over the coming six weeks.
MARCUS STOINIS – 4
29 runs at 29.00
Stoinis is at risk of slipping out of Australia’s first-choice XI after another forgettable white-ball performance.
The all-rounder, who has not scored an ODI fifty since early 2019, only made one appearance in the three-match series against India, slapping a quick 29 in Mohali before taking 0-40 from five expensive overs during the run chase.
He’s seemingly in a battle with Cameron Green for one spot in the ODI team ahead of the World Cup.
CAMERON GREEN – 2
59 runs at 19.66, three wickets at 59.00
Green’s worrying form slump continued in India, with the West Australian all-rounder failing to cement his spot in the ODI starting XI ahead of next month’s World Cup.
Despite batting in the middle order for all three matches of the high-scoring series, the 24-year-old finished with an underwhelming strike rate of 75.64.
Green also became just the fourth Australian to concede more than 100 runs in an ODI innings, achieving the unwanted feat in Indore on Sunday.
‘FOUR balls, FOUR sixes!’: Yadav erupts | 01:25
ALEX CAREY – 3
25 runs at 12.50, four catches
Carey is unlikely to lose his spot in Australia’s starting XI ahead of the World Cup, but his lack of runs in the 50-over format is cause for concern.
In seven innings since the start of the recent white-ball tour of South Africa, Carey has passed 15 just once – albeit going on to score 99 in that knock.
The South Australian lacked rhythm in Rajkot on Sunday, but his glovework was solid throughout the series.
GLENN MAXWELL – 7
Five runs at 5.00, four wickets at 10.00
After copping a brutal yorker from Indian seamer Jasprit Bumrah in Rajkot, Maxwell celebrated his long-awaited ODI return with a career-best bowling performance.
The Victorian knocked over every member of India’s top four in a match-winning performance, also holding onto two catches in the field.
Maxwell looms as a crucial figure ahead of Australia’s World Cup campaign.
The Big Show makes triumphant return | 02:16
MATTHEW SHORT – 2
11 runs at 5.50
Parachuted into Australia’s ODI squad at the eleventh hour, Short unfortunately couldn’t make the most of his opportunity to push for World Cup selection.
After making his ODI debut in Mohali, the Victorian was given a chance to prove his worth at the top of the order on Sunday, removed cheaply in the second over of Australia’s run chase.
However, Short provided some handy spells with his part-time off-spin in India, and remains the closest like-for-like replacement for the injured Travis Head.
MITCHELL STARC – 4
One wicket at 53.00
The left-armer showed plenty of signs of rust in his return from injury on Wednesday, leaking 7.57 runs per over during the third ODI in Rajkot.
Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Washington Sundar feasted on Starc’s bowling during the Powerplay, but the 33-year-old bounced back to remove KL Rahul later in the run chase.
Australia has recently struggled to take wickets during the Powerplay, and Starc will be instrumental in creating early breakthroughs at the upcoming World Cup.
Starc’s all-time strike rate to continue | 01:38
PAT CUMMINS – 6
Two wickets at 51.50
The national captain, who recently recovered from a wrist injury he sustained during the fifth Ashes Test, was arguably the pick of Australia’s bowlers during the series opener in Mohali, conceding just 4.40 runs per over in a high-scoring contest.
However, Cummins was far from his best in the third ODI on Wednesday, regularly straying down the leg side to India’s right-handers.
The 30-year-old also provided a couple of productive cameos with the bat, scoring 40 runs across the series without being dismissed.
JOSH HAZLEWOOD – 7
Three wickets at 34.66
The Bendemeer Bullet is Australia’s highest-ranked ODI bowler for a reason.
Hazlewood was once again relentless with his lengths against India this week, conceding 5.77 runs per over while removing the dangerous Suryakumar Yadav during Wednesday’s run chase in Rajkot.
He also scored a career-best 23 (16) during the second ODI against India, combining with Sean Abbott for an entertaining 77-run partnership for the ninth wicket.
Hazlewood snares early breakthrough! | 00:28
SEAN ABBOTT – 5
Two wickets at 73.50
Abbott confessed his bowling in the death overs needed to improve ahead of the World Cup, which was a fair assessment after Sunday’s demolition in Indore.
The New South Welshman conceded a career-worst 91 runs in the second ODI as the hosts raced towards a record total.
However, Abbott somewhat redeemed himself by cracking a maiden international half-century during the unsuccessful run chase, verifying his all-rounder status.
ADAM ZAMPA – 7
Three wickets at 41.33
For Zampa to only concede 67 runs on a batter-friendly wicket with short boundaries in Indore speaks volumes of his talent.
The leg-spinner looms as one of Australia’s most essential figures ahead of the World Cup, particularly since captain Pat Cummins suggested he may be called upon to bowl some death overs throughout the tournament.
However, Zampa dropped a regulation return chance during the series opener in Mohali, which proved a costly error.
Aussie blunder sees crucial catch denied | 01:53
SPENCER JOHNSON – 3
Zero wickets at N/A
It was a forgettable debut series for a talented bowler, who returned home with a hamstring injury this week.
Johnson failed to live up to the hype after being handed his maiden ODI cap on Sunday, unable to take a wicket and leaking 7.62 runs per over as India raced towards a record total in Indore.
However, this almost certainly won’t be the last time we see the left-armer in canary yellow.
TANVEER SANGHA – 6
One wicket at 61.00
The young spinner held his own while taking on white-ball superstars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli on Wednesday, helping Australia defend a 353-run target in the dead rubber.
Sangha occasionally dropped short throughout the impressive ten-over spell, but his leg breaks proved challenging for India’s right-handers to tame.
With strike spinner Ashton Agar nursing an injury ahead of Australia’s World Cup campaign, it remains to be seen whether the 21-year-old has done enough to book a spot in the 15-player squad.