As the second ODI drew to a close, Steve Smith opted for Aaron Hardie to bowl the death overs, following the overs bowled by Ben Dwarshuis and Sean Abbott. Despite having options like Matt Short, Tanveer Sangha, Adam Zampa, and Glenn Maxwell available, Smith took a risk with Hardie. Unfortunately, Hardie’s over did not go as planned: he began with a wide, followed by a dropped catch that went for six, and then another six hit straight down the ground, resulting in a disappointing 16 runs conceded. Charith Asalanka seemed exhausted towards the end of the innings, leaving the impression that two catches could have altered the outcome.
Simon Katich highlighted a potential weakness for Australia in the upcoming Champions Trophy—absence of Mitchell Starc during critical moments. Starc has withdrawn for personal reasons, paving the way for Spencer Johnson as his likely replacement. Johnson, who took 2-44 in the first ODI, expressed his eagerness but admitted feeling nervous about stepping into Starc’s shoes. He noted the experience was beneficial and hoped to improve with more matches under his belt, aiming to emulate Starc’s impact in the team.