Australian captain Aaron Finch explained the decision to open the bowling with right-arm seamer Nathan Coulter-Nile rather than left-arm counterpart Mitchell Starc, after Sunday’s six-wicket defeat to South Africa in the first ODI in Perth.

Coulter-Nile shared the new ball with fast bowler Josh Hazlewood but was soon removed from the attack after proving expensive. He was replaced by Starc, who surprisingly didn’t accompany Hazlewood at the top of the attack.

‘We’d planned to go in with Coulter-Nile and Josh with the new ball. It didn’t work out for Coulter-Nile in the first over, then we went to Starc pretty quick,’ said Finch.

‘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 [and expecting something different], it’s the definition of insanity, isn’t it?’ added Finch.

Australia had been limited to 152 all out before the Proteas reached a 153-run target with 124 deliveries to spare.

‘When you’re defending a low total, it feels like you have to over-attack,’ added Finch.

‘It’s almost like the quicks can’t settle into their work. They’re always searching for something.

‘We’re looking for a combination, looking for a method. Obviously, a few more runs would be handy as well.’

The second ODI will be played in Adelaide on Friday. Hobart will host the third and final ODI on Sunday.

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