New Australia selections shine as World Cup selection becomes a talking point

Injuries have demanded one-day experimentation in India and the results have given Australian selectors more than food for thought after a second match demolition of the home side in game two of the series.

While Mitchell Starc was the matchwinner and equalled a record he already held with a withering spell of fast bowling as the tourists inflicted India’s biggest ODI defeat at home, the efforts around him were telling.

Opening the batting as David Warner again looked on from the sidelines, Mitchell Marsh was near unstoppable for a second straight game as he and Travis Head reeled in the meagre target of 117 without losing a wicket.

But before that Sean Abbott and Nathan Ellis, playing in the absence of skipper Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, took three and two wickets respectively, ensuring when time comes to pick Australia’s 15-player squad for the World Cup in India later this year, selectors will face more debate about who to leave out than who to pick.

Starc, who took his ninth five-wicket haul in ODI cricket, a number surpassed by only two bowlers in the history of the game, said it was hard to not be pleased with such a dominant win knowing that the World Cup is never far from their thoughts.

“Every series is a chance to perform for your country but with one eye on the World Cup, obviously with particular conditions and obviously playing against India that’s one, I guess, by-product of this series, “ he said.

“The other is still it’s still a one day series against India in India, which we want to win.

“And then once obviously we get past that game and then probably more focus on the World Cup, there’s parts of this series which will be World Cup in the back of your mind.

“But I think predominantly for this group, it’s still a chance to win a one-day series in India, which is pretty special.”

While Head was seen as the likely replacement for retired captain Aaron Finch at the top of the order, through two games in India Marsh has shown himself to be a weapon going in first too.

He’s pounded 11 sixes in scores of 81 to start the series and then an unbeaten 66, his 147 runs coming off just 101 balls, with 16 fours as well in a powerhouse display of batting.

But while he has stood out, the white-ball weaponry of Starc continues to be key for any Australian limited overs success.

He took four wickets in the opening 10 overs of the Indian innings, and he’s the only Australian bowler ever to do that, having done it once before in Perth.

The 33-year-old, who was a late starter on tour after overcoming a finger injury, said his plan in ODI cricket “probably hasn‘t changed for 13 years” and remained as effective as ever.

“Bowl full, hit the stumps, try and swing it,” Starc said.

“I think the that’s just been my role for a long time is to try and take wickets upfront in the powerplay.

“At times that means I’m probably more expensive, but I’m trying to bring in almost a dismissal.

“It’s something I’ve done for a long time is to try and be aggressive and take wickets in the powerplay, and I think our whole bowling attack did that today when we have we have six wickets in the powerplay.

“That’s a big step forward in one-day cricket when obviously you got a powerhouse batting line-up that India do have, if you can take wickets in the powerplay it means we’re sort of controlling the game in some respects, which is what we did today, which was really great to see.”

Game three of the series is in Chennai on Wednesday.