Australia must rethink its ODI revolving door policy after so few wins in 2017, writes Russell Gould

SO many players wore the green and gold in the one-day format last year but there were so few wins for an Australian outfit that will take on an England side that hardly loses these days, writes RUSSELL GOULD.

Cameron White is another to get a game for Australia in the ODI format. Picture: Getty Images

AUSTRALIA has won only one of its past 11 one-day internationals.

That’s not a great record for the reigning World Cup champions who start another one-day series on Sunday against an England white-ball outfit that hardly loses these days.

Admittedly, all of those 11 games were overseas, and one was abandoned.

Another two were rained out at the Champions Trophy in the UK in June, when Australia’s only completed match was a loss — to England.

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England’s 2017 one-day rec­ord of 15 wins from 20 matches included 14 games at home, but in 15 completed one-day internationals in 2017, Australia won only five, and four were against Pakistan last summer.

There was a revolving door for players in the past year, too, as a combination of injuries, rotations, and a couple of abs­olute guesses — remember Sam Heazlett? — resulted in 25 players getting a game.

That should grow at the MCG on Sunday with Cameron White’s surprise ­recall, and the chance a West Australian quick, Jhye Richardson or Andrew Tye, could debut.

Opener Aaron Finch was part of the turnstile policy, dropped for the home games last summer before being the captain in New Zealand.

Adam Zampa feels on edge for his spot in the team. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Now he’s locked in as an opener again, but conceded even more new faces could get leading to the 2019 World Cup.

“Being still 18 months out, there is still quite a lot of one-day cricket to come, so I’m sure there will be a little bit of ­exp­erimentation outside the key eight or nine players,” he said.

“There are guys who are bankers — Steve Smith, Micth Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Haz­lewood, Davey Warner — but there is still a chance to tinker with a few things and make sure we get our balance right.”

Legspinner Adam Zampa played eight of the 15 games last year, and, before being dropped in India in October, was sidelined more because of conditions than better players.

Zampa is still looking over his shoulder, with several other slow bowlers, including leggie Mitchell Swepson and left-armer Ashton Agar, putting on good shows in the BBL.

“I really want to cement my spot in this team,” he said.

“I feel like I’m on edge a little bit at the moment — that’s a good thing for me, I think I perform my best when there are guys trailing me ... if anything, that will help me.

“I did quite well in those first 12 months and then it does change when people get a look at you.

“It’s just about adapting to conditions (and) I don’t think I have done that too well in the past 12 months.”

Zampa said the team’s poor record had to be addressed.

“We are putting in a conscious effort to make sure we get this form of the game right,” he said.

“It’s time for guys like us to stand up and make sure Australia is where we want to be in one-day cricket.”

Sam Heazlett has played just one ODI game for Australia. Picture: Getty Images

Australia has a great chance to reass­ert its ODI dominance against a new-look England under attacking captain Eoin Morgan.

Since being humiliated in the 2015 World Cup, England has won 34 of 49 games and now poses a real threat.

“They have got a side that continues to take risks the whole ­innings and looks to put the foot down for a big period,” Finch said.

“They have played some great one-day cricket in the last couple of years.

“They have a different captain in Eoin Morgan and the one-day and T20 format suits the way they play.

“I would expect them to come out hard.”

As should Australia.

Our rich one-day history, which includes four World Cup wins, demands it, no matter who is wearing the colours, or where they play.

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Australian ODI players used in 2017 (games)

Steve Smith* (13)

Dave Warner* (13)

Aaron Finch* (8)

Travis Head* (15)

Marcus Stoinis* (7)

Matthew Wade (12)

James Faulkner (8)

Pat Cummins* (15)

Nathan Coulter-Nile (5)

Peter Handscomb (8)

Adam Zampa* (8)

Kane Richardson (3)

Ashton Agar (2)

Hilton Cartwright (2)

Glenn Maxwell (13)

Moises Henriques (3)

Mitchell Starc* (9)

Josh Hazlewood* (9)

John Hastings (1)

Shaun Marsh (2)

Mitchell Marsh* (2)

Sam Heazlett (1)

Billy Stanlake (2)

Usman Khawaja (3)

Chris Lynn (1)

* in current squad