Mitchell Marsh pushes World Cup case as Australia’s experimentation pays dividends in India: ODI Series Player Ratings

Australia has climbed to No. 1 on the ICC Men’s ODI rankings after defeating India 2-1 in their own backyard.

After suffering a five-wicket loss in the series opener in Wankhede, the Aussies bounced back with a thumping victory in Visakhapatnam and a gritty win in Chennai to hand India its first home series defeat in four years.

Without the likes of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Australia experimented with its line-up and team balance throughout the white-ball series, which served as useful preparation ahead of this year’s World Cup in India.

Travis Head - 7

89 runs at 44.50

After chopping on for five in the series opener, Head returned serve in the second ODI by plundering an unbeaten 51 (30), partnering with Mitchell Marsh for a 121-run opening stand in Visakhapatnam.

The South Australian couldn’t convert his start into a substantial score in Chennai, flashing at a wide delivery and caught at deep third man for 33 (31), but he remains one of the team’s most consistent ODI batters.

Mitchell Marsh - 9

194 runs at 97.00

Just as elevating Marsh to No. 3 in the national T20 side a couple of years ago proved a masterstoke, Australian selectors should be applauded for identifying the right-hander as an ODI opener.

The powerful West Australian top-scored for Australia in the all three ODIs against India. He smacked 81 and 66 not out in Wankhede and Visakhapatnam respectively, clearing the boundary rope on 12 occasions with a mind-boggling series strike rate of 131.08.

He’s put forward a decent case for opening the batting in the World Cup, potentially putting pressure on David Warner at the top of the order.

Steve Smith - 4

22 runs at 11.00

After a disappointing Test series against India, Smith unfortunately couldn’t rediscover his mojo in the white-ball fixtures.

He peeled off a patient 22 (30) in series opener before falling for a third-ball duck in Chennai, edging behind on both occasions. However, Smith’s captaincy and fielding was the highlight, taking a stunning one-handed grab in Visakhapatnam to remove Hardik Pandya.

Marnus Labuschagne - 3

43 runs at 21.50

Labuschagne’s spot in the ODI team is in jeopardy after two disappointing knocks against India.

After slicing a cut stroke to point in the series opener for 15 (22), the Queenslander threw his wicket away in the third ODI for a sluggish 28 (45).

Labuschagne was meant to be Australia’s anchor in both matches, but he couldn’t stem the flow of wickets.

David Warner - 4

23 runs at 23.00

After watching the first two ODIs from the sidelines due to injury, Warner scored a patient 23 (31) in Chennai before losing his patience and botching a lofted drive spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

The veteran left-hander walked out to bat at No. 4, not opening for just the second time in his illustrious ODI career, as Australia continued to experiment with its line-up.

Josh Inglis - 5

26 runs at 26.00

Only required for the series opener in India, Josh Inglis served as Australia’s wicketkeeper in the absence of Alex Carey, who fell ill.

The West Australian slapped 26 (27) before chopping on, and kept tidily behind the stumps during India’s run chase in Visakhapatnam.

Marcus Stoinis - 5

30 runs at 15.00, three wickets at 23.33

It was an unusual series for Stoinis, how opened the bowling for the first time in his ODI career and batted down at No. 8 in Wankhede.

The West Australian hooped the new ball around corners in the first ODI, snaring two crucial top-order wickets, but his batting left a lot to be desired. Stoinis has not scored an ODI fifty since March 2019, before the previous World Cup.

Cameron Green - 3

12 runs at 12.00, zero wickets

A relatively quiet series by Green’s standards, bowled by a Mohammed Shami peach for 12 (19) in his lone knock and leaking 55 runs in 11 uneventful overs.

He’s shown glimpses of his potential throughout his short ODI career, but it’s up for debate whether he’s done enough to warrant selection in the World Cup.

Glenn Maxwell - 3

8 runs at 8.00

Still recovering from a horror leg injury, Maxwell only featured in the first ODI in Wankhede, scratching his way towards 8 (10) before slapping a full delivery directly towards mid-wicket.

Regardless, Maxwell will be critical to Australia’s success in this year’s World Cup.

Alex Carey - 6

38 runs at 38.00, two catches

The Australian wicketkeeper was, as usual, impeccable with the gloves and handy with the bat.

Looking to prevent a collapse, Carey notched 38 (46) in Chennai before falling victim to a Kuldeep Yadav ripper that turned past his outside edge crashed into his off stump.

Mitchell Starc - 9

8 wickets at 21.12

The best bowler of the series, Starc snared his ninth ODI five-wicket haul in Visakhapatnam to help Australia secure a thumping five-wicket victory.

The left-hander swing the ball viciously in the first two ODIs, and India’s batters were helpless against the talented paceman.

However, the left-hander conceded more than six runs per over throughout the series, finishing with 0-67 in the series decider in Chennai.

Adam Zampa - 8

4 wickets at 22.00

After two wicketless matches, Zampa bounced back in Chennai and proved why he remains one of the best white-ball bowlers in world cricket.

The leg-spinner rolled through India’s middle-order in the third ODI, earning Player of the Match honour as Australia clinched a series victory over the cricket powerhouse.

Sean Abbott - 7

4 wickets at 26.00

Abbott continues to impress in canary yellow with a trio of solid performances in the subcontinent.

Although he hasn’t done enough to usurp Josh Hazlewood, the world’s No. 1 ODI bowler, the New South Welshman is a leading contender to serve as Australia’s reserve quick in the World Cup.

Nathan Ellis - 8

2 wickets at 6.50

The Tasmanian only got on chance to push his case for World Cup selection, and he didn’t disappoint.

Ellis removed the dangerous Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja to help Australia bowl out the hosts for 117 in Visakhapatnam, leaking less than three runs per over.

He’s relentlessly accurate with clever variations that seemingly suit subcontinent conditions.