Tinkering over, Smith backs return to form

ONE-DAY domination did not follow Australia’s victory at the 2015 World Cup as selectors flirted with experimentation and at times seemed uninterested in the limited-overs format.

Seven losses in the past 15 matches has been the result in the 50-over format, including a 5-0 whitewash in South Africa last year that handed the Proteas the No.1 ranking.

Australia also lost two of three games to New Zealand in January and February when skipper Steve Smith was absent, saved from a 3-0 drubbing when the middle game was a wash out.

There has been too much unsuccessful trial and error in recent times, and only four of the 14 players given one-day debuts since the World Cup win in March 2015 are part of the 15-man Champions Trophy squad.

So Australia starts the tournament tonight, against the Kiwis at Edgbaston, as reigning world champion but ranked second, and behind host England as tournament favourite, too.

But with the best possible team once again assembled — no picks on potential or oneoff selector’s choices — skipper Smith’s men are steeled to once again grab the silverware on offer.

“These are big tournaments and the ones you want to win,” Smith said on match-eve.

“Going to NZ [earlier this year] a few players were missing, we were probably a bit disappointing there.

“We need to get back to the way we want to play, and hopefully get our tournament off to a good start.”

Australia underperformed at the last Champions Trophy in 2013, losing to England and Sri Lanka, and failed to progress beyond the pool stage.