Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who spearheaded the pace attack in his side's three-wicket win against England, believes that victory in the first match of the triangular series has reopened a few scars within the England squad ahead of the countries' World Cup opener in Melbourne next month.
England's batting was ripped apart by the pace of Starc and Pat Cummins who picked up five wickets between them in the absence of the rested Mitchell Johnson.
Eoin Morgan's team was struggling at 33 for four in the ninth over of their innings after Starc had claimed two wickets with the opening three balls of the match, The Guardian reported.
Only a magnificent century from Morgan in his first game as full-time captain got the tourists to a respectable total of 234, but it never looked enough as Australia, inspired by David Warner's third ODI hundred, chased down their target with 10 overs to spare to secure a bonus-point win.
Australia and England would face each other again in Hobart next Friday, with a potential third match in Perth on February 1 providing both edge out India to reach the Tri-Series final.
Starc, who finished with figures of 4-42, is hoping that Australia's win in Sydney has undermined England's confidence and brought back bitter memories of last winter when they followed an Ashes whitewash with a 4-1 ODI series win.
Starc said that hopefully they have reopened a few scars, adding that England is going to have to be out there for a few months now with this Tri-Series and the World Cup so there's no better way to kick off Australia's campaign than getting one above them.
Starc believes that Australia played really well with bat and ball, great intensity and added that the only way to go is to try and improve that.