Aussies learn from England's playbook

Recalled batsman Peter Handscomb has revealed Australia are looking to replicate England's ODI success as they gear up to defend their World Cup crown.

Australia's 2-1 series defeat to India extended a white-ball form slump that has alarm bells ringing four months out from the start of the World Cup.

Since beating Pakistan in January 2017, Australia have lost six straight ODI series while crashing out of the Champion's Trophy without winning a game.

During the same period, England – with the exception of an upset defeat in last year's one-off match against Scotland – have not lost a bilateral ODI series.

Joe Root's men handed Australia a 4-1 series defeat last summer, then put them to the sword again with a 5-0 whitewash on English soil.

Australia's selectors mixed things up for the series against India, introducing a new-look middle order of Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh and Handscomb.

The trio were Australia's highest scorers for the series, led by Marsh who continued his exceptional ODI form to post 224 runs at 74.66.

England's recent ODI success has largely been driven by their destructive batting style but Handscomb admired their ability to work through the gears.

"They go pretty hard but they have their controllers as well," he said.

"They've got Root and (Eoin) Morgan who can play that sort of holding role in the middle which is probably what 'Ussie' (Khawaja) and 'SoS' (Marsh) have been doing as well.

"We're looking to rotate the strike against the spin and take it deep because the power we've got in the team is amazing, as long as we can get them to the last 10 overs.

"I think it's quite a similar style ... and (Aaron Finch) is not far off from smacking them again. Once he gets going again up the top, I think it's a great game plan."

England's form in the 50-over format has them narrow favourites with bookmakers ahead of India to win the World Cup on home soil.

Handscomb noted that Australia would have the option of promoting power hitters such as No.7 Glenn Maxwell when chasing big totals.

"Similar to what England do, if they're chasing big they put their hitters up higher and they get a go," Handscomb said.

"I'd probably slide down (like) Root slides down. You've got to be adaptable. And I think we've got the players in this team to be really adaptable depending on the circumstances."