Steve Smith's gesture for rival captain as Aussies torched over 'horrible' scenes in ODI loss - nile sport

Steve Smith and Alex Carey produced a classy gesture for Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka in the first ODI on Wednesday, but the Aussies copped a huge reality check ahead of the Champions Trophy. Fielding a relatively second-string team due to the absences of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Mitch Marsh, Australia slumped to a 49-run loss that poses huge questions over the chances of winning the Champions Trophy.

Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis also didn't play on Wednesday and will be part of Australia's strongest XI in the mini-World Cup in Pakistan, but the loss will still come as a concern. Asalanka made a brilliant 127 off 126 balls to rescue his side, taking them from 5-55 to 214.

Carey and Smith both showed their class when Asalanka finally departed, congratulating the Sri Lanka captain for his sensational knock. Carey was seen running up to Asalanka to shake his hand, while Smith also gave him a first-bump as he left the ground.

But their classy act didn't produce much good karma, with Australia bowled out for a measly 165 in response. Under-fire opening pair Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk made 0 and 2 respectively, continuing a lean run of form in national colours.

Head is certain to open the batting in the Champions Trophy, and questions will be asked about whether either of Short or Fraser-McGurk deserve to partner him. The Aussie middle order was decimated as they lost Cooper Connolly (3) and Smith (12) to be 4-31, before Carey showed some resistance with a fighting 41.

Aaron Hardie (32) and Sean Abbott (20) managed a decent partnership, and Adam Zampa made 20 not out at No.10. But the Aussies were bowled out in just 33.5 overs in an embarrassing start to their preparations for the Champions Trophy.

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Huge questions ahead of Champions Trophy

They'll play one more ODI against Sri Lanka on Friday, before their first match of the Champions Trophy against England on February 22 in Pakistan. The Aussies have failed to make it past the group stage in the last two editions of the 50-over tournament, which features the top eight teams in ODI cricket in a mini-World Cup of sorts.

The Champions Trophy is one of very few major titles the Aussie team doesn't currently own, and they'll be looking to change that. But questions have emerged about how much the Aussie team actually cares about the tournament, which has been squeezed in between the Sri Lanka Tests and Indian Premier League in a hectic schedule.

The Aussies headed to Sri Lanka just 10 days after a five-Test series at home against India, and Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood are all missing the Champions Trophy as a result. Cummins and Hazlewood are being kept on ice with injury issues, while Starc withdrew on Wednesday to due to undisclosed "personal issues".

Wife Alyssa Healy later moved to assure fans that everything is fine with her husband, and even stated on the 'Willow Talk' podcast: "Hadds (Brad Haddin) suggested maybe I was pregnant, but I can guarantee that I'm not. Yeah we're fine."