Fearless England expose Aussie woes

England's ultra-aggressive approach to one-day cricket has Australia on the back foot, heaping the pressure on a batting line-up that is already under heavy scrutiny after a string of poor performances. 

A Jason Roy century and an unbeaten 70-ball 91 from Jos Buttler saw England pile up 8-342 against Australia in Cardiff, their highest ever score against Australia.

England's overhaul of their approach to one-day cricket, prompted by their humiliating 2015 World Cup group-stage exit, has seen them soar to the top of the world rankings.

In 47 years of one-day cricket, England has posted 300 or more runs when batting first 50 times. But they've done it 21 times in the past three years since that World Cup exit, and five of them have been 350 or more. 

By contrast, Australia has passed 300 batting first just 11 times since the 2015 World Cup. Which highlights that the woes of the current side, down 2-0 ahead of Tuesday night's third ODI, extend deeper than the reshuffles caused by the suspensions of David Warner and Steve Smith. 

New vice-captain Aaron Finch, the side's most experienced player with 90 ODIs to his name, said England's big-hitting, fast scoring approach has posed some difficult questions. 

"England go hard full stop don’t they. They are an ultra-aggressive side and they do it with a lot of confidence as well," Finch said. 

"I think at times that can put a little bit of doubt in your mind as a batter. Do I hang in for another five overs and drift along at four, five an over? Or do we push it? 

"We are still fighting ourselves a little bit in regards to that.

"At the back of your mind at times you do have those thoughts, 'We are in a decent position now, let’s push the envelope a little earlier'.

"Then we leave ourselves five or six down in that final 10 overs when you can do a lot of damage, but you can’t really when your bowlers are batting. 

"We’ve got a little bit of work to do individually on just being a little bit more patient, waiting a touch longer as well."

With the next World Cup now less than a year away – Australia's campaign will begin on June 1, 2019 against Afghanistan – time is running out to find a winning formula. 

"Each day we are trying to get better and we are still trying 100 per cent," said Finch. 

"We haven’t been on the right side of the wins, and that’s because we haven’t played well enough. But we are still trying. 

"There’s quite a few young guys in our team but all the guys, except D’Arcy Short, have ODI hundreds, so there is no lack of skill there. 

"It’s just putting it all together at once. It is frustrating, but we are having a crack, we are all trying to improve."

England have also hit more than 300 while chasing six times since the last World Cup, and won four of them, including twice against Australia. The Aussies have hit 300 or more in run chases three times, for two wins. 

"When you do play against a powerful side, that when they bat first they post big totals, they chase down some big totals, you have to weigh it up," Finch continued.

"At times we have probably got that balance wrong over the last little while. Do we push the envelope and try and get 350, or do we try get 280, be in the game, and maybe get 310, 320?

"It’s a fine balance and one we haven’t found for quite a while. 

"It’s the basics that have let us down. You could have the best thinking in the world and if you don’t execute, it’s all for nothing."

Qantas tours of the UK and Zimbabwe

ODI squad: Tim Paine (c), Aaron Finch (vc), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye

England ODI squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (injured), David Willey, Chris Woakes (injured), Mark Wood

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

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: Third ODI, Trent Bridge (D/N)

June 21: Fourth ODI, Durham (D/N)

June 24: Fifth ODI, 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