Five reasons for Australia's recent struggles in away ODIs

#4 Run-ins with the Rain Gods

Several of Australia's games have felt the wrath of the Rain Gods

South Africa's name springs up in any cricket discussion related to bad luck with rains. However, in the past year, rain has followed Australia everywhere they've gone and scuppered their plans.

Rain has interfered in six of Australia's 13 scheduled away ODIs over the last year. In fact, at the ICC Champions Trophy, each of Australia's games was marred by rain. While the games against New Zealand and Bangladesh were called off after the completion of an innings, the one against England was curtailed via the intervention of the Duckworth-Lewis method. Without winning a single game, the current world champions made a rather acrimonious exit from the Champions Trophy.

In both games of the ongoing series versus India, rains have made an appearance, thereby altering the conditions and also slowing down momentum. Steve Smith and his men will be praying for the Rain Gods to stay away for good.