Aussies cop battering

SKIPPER Tim Paine has a badly cut mouth, Billy Stanlake has a badly cut big toe and Australia’s one-day cricket reputation has a bruise growing bigger by the match.

As the losses continue to mount there’s a bit of fight in the group being formed by new coach Justin Langer and a level of confidence that the bumps they are copping right now aren’t knockout blows.

A 38-run loss to England in the second ODI in Cardiff was the sixth in seven games to the old enemy and the record of the World Cup champs makes for ugly reading. Australia have lost 13 of their past 15 ODIs.