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The wheel will turn: Finch

Captain adamant results will come after collapse saw Australia slump to a seventh straight defeat

After a record seventh consecutive one-day international defeat and another dramatic batting collapse, Australia skipper Aaron Finch is staunch in his belief the wheel will turn for his side.

Australia's six-wicket loss to South Africa yesterday made it seven ODI losses on the trot, the first time the five-time World Cup winners have gone so long without a win, and their poor run now reads only two wins from their past 19 matches.

But under new coach Justin Langer with a new-look squad, Finch – now the nation's full-time ODI captain – is adamant his side's fortunes will change if they stick to their guns.

"It will turn," Finch said. "The way that we're training, believe me, the way that we're training and preparing the wheel will turn and it will happen quickly.

"It might not be tomorrow, it might not be the next day.

"But I think if we keep improving and keep practicing as we are it will turn."

Watch all 10 Australian wickets

As it has done throughout the record slide, Australia's batting let them down yesterday.

Having been sent in on what turned out to be a wicket with pace, bounce and plenty on offer for the quicks, Finch's side crumbled to 3-8 then 6-66 against a South Africa pace attack firing on all cylinders.

The early losses of Travis Head, D'Arcy Short and Finch, all inside six overs, changed the trajectory of Australia's innings to the point where the hosts could not flex their muscles and showcase their power-packed batting unit.

The Proteas did not concede a boundary until the last ball of the 12th over and rarely did they release the pressure with a bad ball to give the home side a sniff of a resurgence.


Couple that intense pressure with a team low on confidence and you get a performance like the one seen on Sunday.

Criticism is sure to surround Australia's batting order but Proteas veteran Dale Steyn said it wasn't bad batting by the hosts but exceptional bowling by the tourists that delivered the result.

Our bowlers were relentless: Steyn

"Our bowlers were relentless with their lines and their lengths and just made it extremely difficult to score," Steyn said.

"When Australia scored runs they had to take a risk and play good shots off good balls rather than good shots off bad balls.

"When you're bowling good balls all the time you're questioning and putting guys under pressure and their technique and their ability to score."

Miller magic catches Cummins short

Despite the heavy loss, Finch is of the belief if his side keeps preparing the way it has been under coach Langer, Australia's besieged batting unit can return to form.

"You'd say guys at times are probably doubting themselves," Finch said.

"When guys are not performing as well as they can do and have done in the past there's always going to be a little bit out of doubt.

"When South Africa bowled as well as they did today you have to be at your absolute best to get through that.

No new-ball for Starc was a tactic: Finch

"We can't question the way anyone's been training or preparing. It's been spot on.

"It's just one of those things. You're only one good shot away from feeling on top of the world again."

Australia v Proteas, Gillette ODI series, November 2018

First ODI: South Africa won by six wickets

Second ODI: Adelaide Oval, November 9

Third ODI: Blundstone Arena, Hobart, November 11

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn.