A team-wide effort has given Australia a defendable total in the deciding third ODI against India in Chennai.
Only captain Steve Smith, gone for a duck, flopped – with even Adam Zampa and Mitch Starc adding handy runs at the bottom of the order – as the tourists were dismissed for 269 off 49 overs.
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Travis Head (33 off 31) and Mitch Marsh (47 off 47) started well, continuing their excellent form from the dominant second ODI win, before the pair and Smith were all dismissed by Hardik Pandya.
After being passed fit David Warner returned and posted 23, with every batsman below him also reaching double digits to ensure a competitive total.
Australia entered the clash on the back of a ten-wicket domination of their rivals, chasing down India’s measly total of 117 in just 11 overs and with 10 wickets to spare.
Head (51* off 30) and Marsh (66* off 36) put the hosts to the sword, prompting discussion that Warner’s services may not necessarily be required given the form of the opening duo.
Warner has trained just twice since jetting back to India after he initially returned to Australia after the second Test having sustained a hairline fracture in his elbow.
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Brutal Marsh bludgeons India’s attack | 02:02
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Selection chief George Bailey said prior to the second ODI Warner was “coming along nicely,” but ultimately did not appear in the batting line-up.
Warner currently boasts a stunning average of 45.16 in ODI cricket and remains an important presence in the team.
But with the impressive form of Marsh since being thrust into an opening role, it certainly gives the selectors plenty of food for thought going into the future.
Australia XI: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, David Warner, Alex Carey, Marnus Labuschagne, Marcus Stoinis, Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Agar, Adam Zampa
India XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd Siraj, Mohd Shami
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