Belief high after tour

STUNG Australian captain Tim Paine is adamant the way forward for the one-day team is clear despite a historic 5-0 whitewash to an English team showing world cricket the way less than a year out from the next World Cup.

But whether Paine is on that path with the team remains unclear after the new skipper admitted a discussion would have to be had after a series in which he didn’t get the best out of himself.

Australia almost burst the local balloon in a thrilling final encounter at Trent Bridge that came from nowhere after the tourists imploded with the bat to be all out for 205 having stormed to 0-60.

But Billy Stanlake, one of few shining lights in a dark series, showed his capacity to rattle the England batting cage, snaring three early wickets before a masterful century from Jos Buttler saved English blushes.

“It’s disappointing to lose five games of cricket in a row. It stings a lot,” Paine said.

“We know we are a long way off the mark at the moment but a World Cup is not for 12 months and we know when we get our best team on the park we are going to be right in the thick of it. “