Australia VS England: Jos Buttler and England have already given up on ODIs against Australia

Jos Buttler admitted that his side was tired and that it would be wrong to pretend otherwise, accepting the series would pose a threat. 

"It's going to be a challenge. There's no point saying all the right things like we'll be at our best," the skipper told the reporters. 

Firstly, it is refreshing to see such honesty from a captain. In an age where all answers are stage-managed, this felt very different – and real. 

It made no sense that this was the planned line of answers because the England and Wales Cricket Board would not want the team's leader to shine a light on the inconvenient scheduling. No good can come from this. 

However, that last line is worth repeating because it applies not just to the administrators but the team, too – no good can come from this. 

Yes, we all know it is a series with no stakes. The T20 World Cup ended days ago, so it made sense to take a bit of a hiatus before beginning the build to the ODI World Cup set to take place in 2023. 

Even for Australia, this series will teach them little besides what they already know. And, coming off an exit in a home World Cup before even reaching the knockout stages, the players, too, would have ideally wanted some time to get refreshed. 

However, that's not what's happening here, and instead, Jos Buttler's admission of the team's fatigue will only play into Australia's hands. 

Yes, England will doubtless be tired, but most Australian players would not have wanted to play so soon after the World Cup. 

Therefore, there is tiredness on both sides – but only one has gone public with their admission that they would rather be elsewhere. 

Is it any wonder that that side ended up on the losing side of the first ODI? 

It's also worth questioning what the endgame to this is. Will the English cricketers use this to make a solid point about the scheduling and it wreaking havoc on their long-term careers? 

Or is this just a way to express that they are tired without actually following through and doing anything meaningful in the long run? 

It's impossible to tell at this point, but so far, there's been no news reports of a widespread mutiny among the England ranks or of any desire to push through for changes to the schedule. 

But it does seem like the ODI series being put on so soon after the World Cup has irritated the English players – although what good going public with their grievances has remains to be seen. 

For now, though, it's played right into Australia's hands – and they could see a series win over their arch-rivals and newly crowned T20 world champions.