Likely washout of Cuttack ODI 'silver lining' for Oz squad ahead of winter Ashes

The likely washout of Saturday's fifth ODI against India in Cuttack may reportedly have a silver lining for Australia by freshening up players like Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson ahead of the return Ashes series in Australia.

Although the unseasonable heavy rain is ruining the series for India, which is 3-0 down in the ODI series, the Australian Test team might be benefited if the rain washes out the fifth ODI too as then Johnson can get another rest day on Saturday and will be available for the final games of the seven-match series in Nagpur and Bangalore.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, all-rounder Watson and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin are both burdened with heavy workloads in the Test and ODI teams and will also be relieved by an additional day's rest, with Watson saying that he appreciates a day off as he has been playing non-stop for the last seven or eight months.

The report mentioned that Watson has been on the road for eight months playing Test, ODIs and Twenty20 for Australia as well as taking part in the Indian Premier League and Champions League campaigns for the Rajasthan Royals.

According to Watson, he and the other players having similar workloads can freshen up if the rain washes out the ODI like they did during certain times in the ODI series against England in the summer.

The report mentioned that the consecutive washouts ruin Australia's opportunity to reclaim the No.1 ODI ranking from India, but possibly improves their chances of securing another series victory on the subcontinent.

Unseasonably heavy rain has lashed the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack for the past week, leaving the venue severely waterlogged, the report added.