Zampa absence shows why he's Australia's white-ball MVP

It hardly felt like a coincidence that Australia's 11-month, 14-match winning streak in one-day internationals should come to an end on the day that Adam Zampa was indisposed.

Sidelined with illness, the absence of their idiosyncratic legspinner who featured in all of those 14 wins made Mitch Marsh's team feel slightly unbalanced and directionless at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday, in their 46-run DLS defeat in the third ODI against England.

Without their go-to twirler to turn to once England had overcome Mitchell Starc's early double strike, it was soon obvious how much the 32-year-old was missed, as no-one in the Australian attack seemed to have any idea how to keep a rampaging Harry Brook and Will Jacks in check.

"It's always a different team when Adam Zampa is not there. He's been an incredible performer for us over a long period of time," conceded Australia coach Andrew McDonald, ruing how he was just the "latest casualty" to fall sick on a tour marred by injury and illness.

In that 14-match win streak, only bettered in ODI annals by the 21-victory march of the 2003 Aussies, Zampa, plugging leaks while making key breakthroughs, took 30 wickets at 19.46 apiece and an economy rate of 4.84.

"This streak is something we didn't speak a lot about, and others spoke for us around that, but it's definitely an incredible run of games," McDonald said.

Zampa's contribution to it made Ricky Ponting - captain for that 2003 run - reflect again how important the leggie was to the world champions in 2024.

"No doubt about it, Australia missed his control, variety and wicket-taking ability," said Ponting, commentating for Sky Sports.

"I've said for a while now I think he's Australia's most important white-ball player. When he doesn't have much of an impact or is not playing, Australia rarely win."

The good news for Marsh is Zampa should return for Friday's showpiece Lord's ODI, along with injured opener Travis Head, when, still holding a 2-1 lead, the tourists will have another chance to clinch the five-match series

But McDonald recognises the ever growing danger to his team posed by England's increasingly confident Brook.

The stand-in ODI skipper's rare talent was unfurled properly against Australia for the first time in his match-winning 110no, decorated by the most sumptuous shot-making.

"Full credit to Harry. He's an impressive player and he's going to have a long career for England," said McDonald.

"He's going to give us some headaches over the journey. The way he played, the way he led today, sometimes you've got to take your hat off to the opposition. This is one of those moments."