Finch explains new-ball switch

The desperate search to reverse Australia's horror run in ODI cricket was the reason behind Australia opting against giving Mitchell Starc the new ball in Sunday's six-wicket loss to South Africa in Perth.

Eyebrows were raised when Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Coulter-Nile opened the bowling at Perth Stadium, the first time in three years across domestic and international cricket that Starc had not taken the new ball.

But having entered the game with only two wins from their past 18 one-day internationals, Australia shook things up yesterday by relieving Starc of his new-ball duties.

But it didn't take long for skipper Aaron Finch to call Starc into the attack after Coulter-Nile leaked 16 runs from his first over as the hosts hunted early wickets defending 152.

"We'd planned to go in with 'Coults' (Coulter-Nile) and Josh (Hazlewood) with the new ball," Finch said after Australia lost by six wickets.

"It didn't work out for Coults in the first over today, then we went to Starcy pretty quick.

"It's just a tactical thing to be honest. Sixteen out of 18 losses in a row, 17 out of 19 now, we're looking for something to try, to try some new things, something different.

"If you keep doing the same thing over and over it's the definition of insanity, isn't it?

"We're looking for a combination, looking for a method.

"Obviously, a few more runs would be handy as well."

Starc is perhaps Australia's finest ODI bowler in its decorated history.

He is the fastest pace bowler to 100 ODI wickets, achieving the feat in just 52 matches, has one of the best strike rates of all time and was the 2015 World Cup player of the tournament.

But fatigue and fitness has seen 2018 become statistically his poorest year in the 50-over format.

In five matches this year the 28-year-old has taken seven wickets at 43.28 with an economy rate of 6.44. Those figures are dramatically different from his outstanding overall record of 141 wickets in 73 matches at an average of 21.28 while conceding 4.94 runs per over.

Starc returned figures of 0-47 from eight overs against the Proteas having been cleared of a hamstring injury that's dogged him since the UAE Test series, but Finch says the match situation led to all his bowlers pushing the envelope to take 10 wickets and secure a positive result. 

"When you're defending a low total it feels like you have to over-attack," Finch said after play.

"It's almost like the quicks can't settle in to their work. They're always searching for something."

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.