1st ODI: Australia v England at Melbourne

Clarke views big picture ahead of Carlton Mid ODI series

Less than a week after getting his hands on the replica crystal urn, Michael Clarke couldn’t avoid the opportunity to take a peek into the crystal ball.

As Clarke and his rival Ashes skipper Alastair Cook met at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on the eve of the Carlton Mid ODI Series, in addition to showing off the trophy on offer for the five-match tournament they were asked to nurse the ICC World Cup that will be up for grabs in 2015.

Posing with the gilded orb at the stadium that will host the showpiece final on March 29 next year, Clarke acknowledged that while the ODI series beginning tomorrow is vital in its own right, it also provides both teams with a handy sighter before the quadrennial 50-over tournament begins in less than 400 days.

For Australia, success in the Carlton Mid series would not only boost their ambition to reclaim the world No.1 one-day ranking from India but it would fuel interest in the 50-over format, which has become the poor relation to Test and Twenty20 fans here in recent years.

For England, it offers a timely shot at redemption after a lamentable Ashes campaign as well as knowledge they can mix it with the best in the white ball caper in the conditions where their next shot at a world title that has eluded them for 40 years will be decided.

It is the knowledge that the Ashes rivals – currently ranked second and third respectively in the ICC one-day rankings – are likely to figure prominently at the business end of the six-week World Cup that adds some additional piquancy to this 50-over contest.

“Playing in the same facility you're going to play the World Cup in, same pitches, against an opposition that is going to play a huge role - I think England is going to be extremely tough to beat in the World Cup,” Clarke said today.

“So this is going to be great preparation, but this series is going to be extremely important for us as a one-day unit.

“I said before the last two Test matches that we as a Test team had a lot to play for because we were ranked fifth at the time and we want to get back to number one.

“I say the same about this one-day unit.

“We know we are not the number one team in the world at this stage (but) we want to be the number one team in the world. That is our goal.”

While both teams feature significantly different personnel to the Test line-ups, the Australians have opted to grant Ashes hero Mitchell Johnson a much-deserved rest and also opted not to include his fellow express paceman James Pattinson in their starting XI for tomorrow.

That means the fast-bowling duties will be shared by James Faulkner, Clint McKay, Jackson Bird and Nathan Coulter-Nile, while Shaun Marsh is forced to wait at least another match to make his ODI return.

The top-order batting responsibilities will carry a distinctive Test look, with Ashes opener David Warner to partner limited-overs specialist Aaron Finch at the outset followed by Shane Watson and then Clarke.

www.cricket.com.au/news-list/2014/1/11/m...air-cook-odi-preview

Match scheduled to begin at 14:20 local time (03:20 GMT)
Current time: 10:46 local, 23:46 GMT | Match begins in: 3:34 Hrs

James Faulkner was at the Ashes celebrations in Sydney, but during the series itself he was the perennial 12th man, unable to force a change in the Australian line-up. This, though, is a format where he has already shown his worth: his previous ODI innings was a hair-raising 116 off 73 balls, batting at No. 7, against India in Bangalore. Bowling in that series was a fearsome prospect, but Faulkner came out of the carnage better than some. Neither, as his comments on his Test debut showed, is he shy at having a word or two.

Team news
There will be plenty of fresh faces for England, particularly in the middle order where Bopara and Eoin Morgan will form the fulcrum followed by Jos Buttler. Stuart Broad is rested for this and the second match meaning the likes of Chris Jordan or Chris Woakes will get a chance. The former's extra pace should make him favourite.

England (possible) 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Ian Bell, 3 Joe Root, 4 Ravi Bopara, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Jos Buttler (wk), 8 Tim Bresnan, 9 Chris Jordan, 10 James Tredwell, 11 Boyd Rankin

James Pattinson will have to wait a little longer for his international return while Shaun Marsh is the batsman to miss out. Darren Lehmann has said that Clint McKay is under pressure to lift after struggling in India - although he was not the only bowler to take a hammering - and being dropped from his BBL team.

Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Aaron Finch, 3 Shane Watson, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 George Bailey, 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 James Faulkner, 9 Nathan Coulter-Nile, 10 Clint McKay, 11 Xavier Doherty

No Luke Wright? That's a shame because he's been tearing it up in the big bash.  It'd be nice to see some close matches now, especially after the demolition that was the Ashes.  I think it will be as well, although I still fancy the Aussies to come up on top!

Luke does not cut the mustard in my view and should give this one a miss.

He was the preferred one 2-3 years ago and did not stand up to it.

However, should he ever make a return, I would wish him the best.

Mail - have you seen him in BBL? He toys with the bowlers. And 2-3 years ago, I wouldn't have wanted him anywhere near the squad. He's a totally improved batting allrounder now. I've seen him bat in BBL and Bangladesh T20 leagues.
England should utilize him in ODIs, and if not that, at the very least T20s. He's been unbelievably good as an opener - just brutal hitting.

Bell bowled by Xman

Eng 62/3 after 17

Cookie & Rooter were early scalps of McKay

Huge wicket, Morgan gone

Big partnership broken by MadMax

NCN with his first wicket, Ravi gone
Eng 173/5

de kiwi is bowled, it's timbaaaa for Faulkner