Imitation won't solve ODI funk: JL

New coach Justin Langer insists his team will not be looking to replicate England – or any other ODI side – as they begin plotting their way towards next year's World Cup defence.

A 4-1 hammering at the hands of their oldest rivals across the summer prompted then Australia captain Steve Smith to consider the need to revamp a 50-over strategy that was made to look almost archaic by a rampant England, who have since risen to the No.1 ranking in the format. 

"It looks like the way they play is for everyone to go really hard and Joe Root is sort of the rock in the middle," Smith said in January. "He just plays good cricket and guys bat around him.

"That works for them and it's something we might have to think about as well. Having guys that are going really hard and having someone, it might be me, who just bats normally.

"(England are) playing with such freedom and have really good game plans."

England's rise is in stark contrast to Australia's dramatic slide – the 2015 World Cup winners currently sit in fifth place in the ODI rankings, behind England, India, South Africa and New Zealand. 

The men in green and gold have lost 11 of their past 13 completed matches dating back to January 2017, equalling their worst-ever sequence in what is a decorated ODI history.

But Langer does not believe the answer to the ongoing funk lies in echoing the strategy of their opponents for next month's five-match ODI series, beginning June 13 in London. 

"I'm hearing about mimicking England's style, and mimicking India's style, mimicking New Zealand's style – we've got to mimic Australia's style, because we should be so proud of what we've achieved in our past," the 47-year-old said. 

"We've got our way of doing things, and we shouldn't shy away from that. 

"Can we get better in one-day cricket? Absolutely, and our ranking shows that – we haven't been great in one-day cricket. 

"We've just got to play it better. 

"For me it's really clear – we need really good athletes. They've got to be able to field well, they've got to be really fit so they can run well between the wickets. 

"We've got to take responsibility with the bat – we've probably got away from that in the last year or so, and our ranking suggests that. 

"But ultimately it's about putting emphasis on what we are doing as a team, not what the individuals are doing, and that's very important I think."

Langer oversaw Australia's first training session under his regime at the Bupa National Cricket Centre in Brisbane on Saturday, ahead of the ODI and T20I squads flying out to the UK on Monday. 

Following the dramatic resignation of Darren Lehmann following the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal, the new coach laid down his markers for a new era.

"I just addressed all the players and coaches then," he said. "The main message is ... just the way we go about our business on and off the field, the behaviours that are expected.

"If we get it clear from day one, it makes things a lot easier.

"We have to aim to be No.1 in professionalism, No.1 in honesty, No.1 in humility.

"It doesn't matter how much money, how many games, how many runs you made – if you are not a good bloke that is what people remember."

Qantas tours of England and Zimbabwe

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

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 England

June 7: Warm-up v Sussex, Hove (D/N)

June 9: Warm-up v Middlesex, Lord's

June 13: First ODI, The Oval (D/N)

June 16: Second ODI, 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

Sunday, July 1: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

Monday, July 2: Pakistan vs Australia

Tuesday, July 3: Australia vs Zimbabwe

Wednesday, July 4: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

Thursday, July 5: Pakistan vs Australia

Friday, July 6: Australia vs Zimbabwe

Sunday, July 8: Final