Our goal is to beat India 5-0 in Sydney, declares Australia captain Steve Smith

Sydney, Jan 22: With the ODI series already in the bag, Australia captain Steve Smith has made it clear they want to beat India 5-0 in Sydney in the 5th and final game on Saturday (January 23).

Photo gallery" title="Ind-Aus series schedule; Photo gallery" />Ind-Aus series schedule; Photo gallery

The hosts are leading 4-0 after having won in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra. With the 5th and final ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Smith said his team's goal was to whitewash the MS Dhoni-led side. (Rain threat over 5th ODI)

"Absolutely (want to win 5-0). That's our goal. We've played some very good one-day cricket so far and it will be a fitting finish to the summer if we can finish with 5-0," Smith said on Friday (January 22) on the eve of the match.

All-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who is in doubt for the match due to injury, too had said they want to win 5-0 and also 3-0 in the T20Is.

"But first up we have to win this series 5-0 which is something we're desperate to do and then hopefully we can win the T20Is 3-0," Maxwell had said after his match-winning 96 in 3rd match.

Reflecting on the 4th ODI in Canberra where the hosts pulled off a great escape to win by 25 runs, Smith said, "It didn't look like it was going to happen for a while there, at 1-277. I thought the boys did a terrific job to take wickets continuously and pull it back. John Hastings and Kane Richardson were marvelous."

India, who were chasing 349 at the Manuka Oval in Canberra, were cruising towards victory as they reached 277/1. But in a dramatic turn of events, the visitors lost 9 wickets for 46 runs to be bowled out for 323.

Australia have set a world record with 19-match unbeaten streak at home. They achieved the feat in Canberra.

OneIndia News