Six things we learned from the ODIs

England are deserved World Cup favourites

England's white-ball revolution was born from the embers of their 2015 World Cup humiliation and the ruthless manner in which they romped to a 5-0 whitewash against Australia underlined exactly why they are the team to beat next year. Yes, this was a below-strength Australia, but they showed no mercy, and also trounced a tired full-strength Australian outfit 4-1 at home in January too. England were also missing their talisman Ben Stokes, who will walk back into the side when fit creating a selection dilemma, while the bowling will be strengthened when Chris Woakes returns. Virat Kohli's India will provide a sterner test than Australia next month and England greatest obstacle to winning the World Cup may be ensuring they haven't peaked too soon.

Aaron Finch should always open the batting

Two of the issues that hindered this Australia team were an overabundance of top-order batsmen, and a lack of strength in the middle order. Aaron Finch, the squad's vice-captain and most experienced player, was used in the middle order during a warm-up match, primarily to give D'Arcy Short and Travis Head runs as opener. But Finch hit a fifty at No.5 and suddenly was seen as an option to bat in the middle during an ODI. Scores of 0 and 20 followed and Finch returned to the top, responding with an even 100 in Durham, his sixth against England. 

Don't forget SoS

At 34 years old Shaun Marsh may just about be playing some of his best cricket. When on-song there is almost nobody in the game better to watch bat and he had a superb Ashes summer. That form rolled into his county stint with Glamorgan and he didn't miss a beat in his return to the national one-day set-up. He was Australia’s leading run-scorer with 288 at 57.60, including centuries at Cardiff and Durham. It's far too early to book a World Cup plane ticket for any player yet, but the 'Son of Swampy' has shown he can fill the gap at No.3 in Steve Smith's absence. Expect him back in national colours when the ODI squad reassembles in November to face the Proteas at home.

Fitness of Big 3 crucial to Cup success

Never have Australia missed the likes of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood more than they did in this series as a young and inexperienced bowling group had a baptism of fire. Australia missed not just their on-field talent but their experience and leadership. It's not likely a rampant England top order would have racked up a world record 481 with any or all of those three on the park. But while this result stings Tim Paine and the Australians now, the memory of it will likely serve the likes of Billy Stanlake, Jhye Richardson and Andrew Tye well in future, adding a battle-hardened layer to their character. But make no mistake, without a fully fit and well-rested 'Big 3' firing Australia's pace attack, a sixth World Cup crown looks a distant possibility.

Agar can lead the spin attack

Bright spots for Australia were few and far between but the continued development of Ashton Agar with both bat and ball is a cause for optimism. Agar is not a big-turning spinner but he bowls tight, claims wickets and, crucially, is always improving. Selectors have made the call he will be the first-choice spinner in white-ball formats and that backing gives him the confidence to thrive. He took four wickets against a powerful batting line-up, and had the best economy rate of any Australian to bowl in three or more innings at 5.52. That puts him third behind Moeen Ali and Mark Wood on the overall economy list for the series. He bowled well in tandem with Nathan Lyon who played the last two matches of the series but took just the one wicket. And despite a horrible misjudgement to shoulder arms and be clean bowled at Old Trafford, he showed glimpses of his talent with the bat, hitting 46 and 40 in successive matches early in the series.

Don't underestimate Ricky Ponting's influence

Watching Australia's training sessions from afar it's hard not to notice the hands-on approach Ricky Ponting brings to coaching. The man has 27,483 international runs to his name across the formats, and players hang off every word he says. And he has a lot of them to say. Ponting has been a constant presence in the nets. At times he has physically moved players' arms and legs, putting them in the precise position to allow them to execute whatever shot they're working on. One beneficiary has been D'Arcy Short. The Big Bash star struggled early in the series but after intense work with Ponting was returned to the XI in Manchester. He batted down the order where he thwarted the spin of Moeen and Rashid to post an unbeaten 47. Coincidence? Doubt it.

Qantas tours of the UK and Zimbabwe

Australia T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth

England T20 squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, David Willey

Qantas Tour of the UK

June 7: Australia beat Sussex by 57 runs at Hove

June 9: Australia beat Middlesex by 101 runs at Lord's

June 13: England won by three wickets at The Oval

June 16: England won by 38 runs in Cardiff

June 19: England won by 242 runs at Trent Bridge

June 21: England won by six wickets in Durham

June 24: England won by one wicket at Old Trafford

June 27: Only T20, Edgbaston (D/N)

Qantas T20I tri-series Tour of Zimbabwe

July 1: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

July 2: Pakistan vs Australia

July 3: Australia vs Zimbabwe

July 4: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

July 5: Pakistan vs Australia

July 6: Australia vs Zimbabwe

July 8: Final