In the last week, two ODI series finished with identical 4-1 scorelines; one was a surprise, the other wasnt. Pakistan, who had done so well to level the Test series 2-2 and take the top spot in the Test rankings, came a cropper in the ODIs, losing each of the first four before managing a consolation win in the last game. Australia, on the other hand, shook off the disappointment of a 3-0 Test drubbing by Sri Lanka - which lost them the No. 1 ranking as well - to turn the tables on the hosts in the ODIs, despite losing the toss and having to chase in tough batting conditions in four matches.Those results were symptomatic of the ODI fortunes of these two teams over the last 30 months. Pakistan have lost 30 out of 50 completed matches during this period, while Australia have won 41 out of 55. The win-loss ratio of 2.93 for Australia is easily the best among all teams - New Zealand are the only other team with a ratio of more than 2.00 - while Pakistan are languishing in ninth position, with only West Indies and Zimbabwe below them (among teams who have played at least 30 games during this period).Pakistans ODI problems have been manifold over the last two and a half years. Their run rate of 5.38 is eighth among the 11 teams, but then batting has traditionally been Pakistans weaker suit.What is more surprising is the lacklustre bowling numbers during this period: their economy rate of 5.61 is worse than all teams except Sri Lanka and West Indies, while the bowling average of 38.55 is the worst among these 11 teams. As Ahmer Naqvi pointed out in this piece, it wasnt entirely surprising that they conceded the largest ever ODI total in this series. Over the five matches in England, Pakistans bowlers averaged 53.59 runs per wicket, and 6.29 runs per over, numbers that are a damning indictment of how ineffective they were throughout the series. In the five-match series in England, Pakistan struggled to take wickets throughout, and Englands deep batting line-up only encouraged them to engage the fourth gear right through the innings. In the first 20 overs of the innings, Pakistan took 12 wickets to Englands 16, in the middle overs they managed eight to Englands 13, and in the last ten they took seven to Englands 11. The middle overs were especially poor for Pakistan. Not only did they fail to take wickets, they also leaked more than a run a ball during this phase.The first 20 overs have been a problem through the last 30 months for Pakistan. They have averaged 46.37 runs per wicket during this period, while the next highest among the top eight teams is Sri Lankas 38.10. For a team that has had a tradition of potent pace attacks, this is a definite worry. A look at the individual bowlers for Pakistan during this period shows the dearth of strike bowlers. Wahab Riaz has been the leading wicket-taker for them during this period, but he has conceded more than 33 runs per wicket, and almost a run a ball. When bowling in the first 20 overs, Wahab has taken only 13 wickets in 128 overs, at an average of 47.23, while Anwar Ali has nine wickets in 80 overs at 47.88.Mohammad Irfan has done better with the newer ball, taking 24 wickets in 161 overs at 30.29, but overall, the bowling picture is a pretty dismal one for Pakistan. And while Yasir Shah has been a star in Tests, his ODI numbers are fairly ordinary so far. Pakistan have also been badly hit by the unavailability of Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez the bowler, leading to pace and spin numbers that dont inspire confidence - both categories of bowlers average more than 40 during this period. Australia, on the other hand, have been the dominant bowling team during this period: their average of 27.80 is the best among these 11 teams, and more than ten runs better than Pakistans 38.55. Australia have bowled teams out in 27 out of 55 completed games, which works out to once every two games. They did it four times in five matches in Sri Lanka, while there have been seven other instances when teams were nine down against them.Pakistan have only achieved it ten times in 50 games, an average of once every five matches. In five matches in England, Pakistan took only 27 wickets.Led by Mitchell Starc and ably supported by James Faulkner and Josh Hazlewood, Australias bowling attack has largely been a wicket-taking one. Starc has been the leading ODI bowler over the last couple of years, with an outstanding strike rate of 25 balls per wicket; in the last ten overs his numbers are even better - 24 wickets at 12.41, and an economy rate of 5.43. The bowling attack is dominated by pace, but Adam Zampa has already made a huge impact in the 12 games he has played, taking 22 wickets at 23.31. While fast bowlers have done most of the bowling, the spinners havent done badly, taking 93 wickets at 32.66.Australias batsmen - led by Steven Smith, Aaron Finch and David Warner - have done the job too, but the bowlers have played a huge role in Australias outstanding success in the last 30 months. The difference in the bowling attacks of the two teams is arguably the biggest reason why Australia are clearly the best ODI team at the moment and why Pakistan are struggling to even qualify directly for the 2019 World Cup. Wholesale Air Max Shoes . Its 1987 and a Brazilian playmaker, known as Mirandinha, is being paraded around St James Park to the passionate Newcastle fans. 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A year ago, under new offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley, Oklahomas schedule allowed them to ease into things especially on that side of the ball.The Sooners started the season with Akron before moving on to a much more difficult task: going to Tennessee in the second week.This season, there wont be a chance to steadily ramp things up as No. 3 Oklahoma starts off with No. 15 Houston on Saturday at NRG Stadium before playing No. 6 Ohio State at home two weeks later.If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best, Sooners cornerback Dakota Austin said. If you can pop it off and just get it out of the way, you know what youll bring to it.Its a great opportunity to show what youre worth early in the season. Once we get in conference play, we can capitalize on that.Houston, one of the top candidates outside the Power 5 to crash the playoff party after a 13-1 season capped with a New Years Eve destruction of Florida State, no longer looks at itself as the underdog. The Cougars view the opener as a must-win to give the January dream any prayer of coming true.Weve raised the bar so high and our internal expectations of the culture around here ... Whats the saying? Weve created a monster, Herman said. And youve got to feed the monster.Oklahoma has aspirations of returning to the College Football Playoff, where they were beaten in the semifinals by Clemson to end last season. That 37-17 loss in the Orange Bowl -- the Sooners second consecutive bowl loss to the Tigers -- has been a focus for Oklahoma throughout the offseason.Losing to the same team twice, two years in a row, theres definitely a chip on our shoulder, Austin said. We know how far we can go. We know how close we have gootten by not even playing our best.dddddddddddd Were really focused on that this offseason and I feel like well have a way better team this year.In order for that to be a possibility, Oklahoma needs a strong start.Rileys task figures to be easier, having figured out how to utilize running backs Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon into his wide-open offense and with quarterback Baker Mayfield and his two tackles on the offensive line returning. Perine, a junior, needs just 1,057 yards to become Oklahomas all-time leading rusher, passing Billy Sims.But Riley is guarding against complacency.You cant feel comfortable here, Riley said. If I feel comfortable, Id be selling my house here in a year. You dont feel comfortable at this place. Thats how you want it though. Thats what I want. I want a place where you expect to win. Last years over. None of that matters. We have to go win games this year. We have one of the toughest schedules in the country that we have to get ready to go attack.Sooners coach Bob Stoops said that while his players might use last year as motivation, its not something he considers.I dont tie years together; I never have, Stoops said. If they were living off the past they sure got woke up in the Orange Bowl. That was all over on that night. Point being: years, in my mind, dont tie together. You have new people, new guys in new positions, different schedule. Its a whole new thing.Oklahoma leads the series with Houston 2-0, winning the last meeting 63-13 in Norman in 2004. The other meeting came in the 1981 Sun Bowl which the Sooners won 40-14. ' ' '