WITH the one-day international series already lost, Australia can find inspiration from the most unlikely source: Indian skipper Virat Kohli.
India were 4-0 down in a five-match series Australia in January 2016 when Kohli boldly declared he wanted to go home with a 4-4 result after three T20 internationals.
WARNER INSPIRATION: Aussies back in winning groove
His team backed him up and a little more than 18 months later his opposite number Steve Smith is in a similar position.
After Australia’s breakthrough win in Bangalore, they are 3-1 down and hanging on to the possibility of winning Sunday’s final ODI in Nagpur before a clean sweep of the three T20Is to finish the tour.
“I think they lost the first four one-dayers and Virat spoke about winning the last one-dayer and then the three T20s to make it four-all,” Aussie fast bowler Kane Richardson said.
“If we can keep winning and get ahead of them in terms of win/loss for the tour that would be the goal.”
India experimented with their batting order and rested players as they fell 21 runs short on Thursday.
Even so, Australia garnered some much-needed confidence out of their most complete batting performance and some impressive bowling at the death.
“It’s all about momentum now heading into the T20s,” Richardson said.
“But as we know it’s quite tough over here.
“Unless you play the perfect game it’s tough to win.”
Australia finally ended an away winless streak which had stretched to 13 games with victory in Bangalore.
Richardson admitted the win had released the pressure of a losing run, which started with a 5-0 whitewash in South Africa last year.
“It’s definitely nice to win the boys who have experienced those last couple of tours,” he said.
“The 5-0 in South Africa, hearing from the boys that was quite tough.
“Now heading to Nagpur the goal is to keep winning.”
One-day cricket’s most accomplished finisher MS Dhoni couldn’t guide his team home with Richardson holding his nerve by bowling slower balls.
Dhoni chopped on to give the South Australian quick his third wicket as he came home with a wet sail to take 3-58.
“It is nerve-racking. The plan is to never put anything in his arc,” Richardson said.
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