Australia captain Steve Smith admits he is running out of answers as he seeks to avert a one-day series defeat to England in Sydney.
Smith could cite a handful of circumstantial reasons to explain the tourists’ convincing lead, having been unable to name his strongest XI at the MCG or the Gabba.
Beaten comfortably in opening two games, Australia will be aiming to keep the five-match series alive when they taken on Eoin Morgan’s men at the historic venue on Sunday.
Ahead of the match, we look at the key talking points.
AUSTRLIA’S DISMAL ODI RUN
Still fresh from their Ashes conquest, things have not been going exactly as planned for Steve Smith’s men in the 50-over format of the game.
The defending World Cup champions are going through their most barren run in history when it comes to ODI cricket.
Australia have won only one of their last 10 one-dayers with the sole victory coming in their 4-1 loss to India at the end of last year.
The hosts will be determined to put this infamous run to an end in front of their own supporters.
Steve Smith’s men will seek to end their barren run.
PACE TRIO BACK FOR THE HOSTS
The fearsome pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were on fire during the Ashes where they finished as the top three wicket-takers for the series.
Due to injuries and players being rested, the three have not featured together in the first two ODIs.
Hazlewood, who missed the Brisbane clash due to an illness, is fit to play at Sydney.
Cummins was rested in the last match but is expected to return as Australia look towards their pacers to get them back into the series.
Starc has been in solid wicket-taking form in the series so far with six scalps to his name and will be relishing the chance to play alongside Cummins and Hazlewood again.
Cummins will be back in the playing XI after being rested.
ENGLAND SHOW THE WAY FOR THE HOSTS
They might have been second best by a long shot in the Ashes series, but the England ODI unit under Morgan has been a completely different story.
The aggressive brand of cricket adopted by England since the 2015 ICC World Cup has paid dividends, so much so that the Aussies can’t but help envy it.
After the defeat at Melbourne, Smith spoke about the need for Australia to emulate England’s approach when it comes to ODI cricket.
His deputy David Warner echoed those sentiments when he said that the visitors were setting the benchmark for limited-overs cricket.
They might have come a cropper in the Tests but Trevor Bayliss’ men sure are setting the world alight when it comes to ODIs.
Smith has said that Australia need to learn from England’s approach.
ENGLAND SEEK TO BURY ASHES GHOST
After being thoroughly outclassed by 4-0 in the Ashes, England now sit on the verge of becoming the first team to beat Australia in an ODI series at their own backyard since Sri Lanka achieved a 2-1 victory in 2010-11.
That record will be one they will want dearly after suffering a harrowing summer Down Under where they have come under criticism for both their on-field and off-field behaviour.
While an ODI triumph does not hold the same value as the historic urn, it would provide some consolation to the England stars if they could bring an end to Australia’s dominance in the format at home.
Root and co will be looking to bury the ghosts of the Ashes loss.
