Aussies set sights on number one ranking

After 4-0 drubbing in the Test series earlier this year, Australia are back in India for a one-off T20 and seven match ODI series with a lot at stake. Plenty has happened off the field since for the three-time world champions and a debacle in the Ashes Test series and ICC Champions Trophy 2013 hasn’t helped their cause either. But a win over hosts England in the recent ODI series will be a morale booster as the once-invincible Aussies kick off the tough Indian tour with the T20 game in Rajkot on October 10. The visitors’ eyes are however on the top ODI spot currently held by India. “If you look at it, it is a chance to be number 1 in the world in one of the three formats,” Australia coach Steve Rixon said of the team after their arrival here on Saturday night. “So, it is very important to the players, the coaching staff and Cricket Australia. At the end of the day, we want to sit back and want to be part of the number one side,” he added. Australia have a good ODI record in India in the recent past. They won 4-2 on two previous occasions before losing 0-1 in the rain-affected series in 2010-11. But skipper George Bailey didn’t read too much into it as the team composition and conditions was different that time. “I find it hard to compare because the conditions change. A lot of things are variable. The game has changed. We have got guys playing T20 on a regular basis now. Back then it wasn’t so prevalent. We have got guys who can turn the game with five overs to go in a 50-over match. The whole contest is a little bit different now,” he said. Australia had plenty of experience available during their ODI series triumphs but this time they will have to do it with an inexperienced side without regular skipper Michael Clarke who is nursing a back injury. “The inexperience is one of our learning curves at the moment. We have to get past that. It is probably our weakness. However, it is also our strength. Youthful exuberance often can be very good when it comes to the crunch,” said Rixon while admitting Clarke will be missed. “You take Dhoni out, that probably answers your question. George is relatively new at the captaincy but he has been around for some time. We are very confident about the job that George does. He has done it with distinction in Twenty20 and he gets his opportunity with the one day competition now,” Rixon said. Five Australian players are part of the ODI squad who played in the Champions League final on Sunday and will be familiar with the conditions. The five — Shane Watson, James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell and Nathan Coulter-Nile — did not participate in the practice session at Brabourne Stadium here on Monday morning and are expected to join the team later in the day. “Most of the guys have been playing a little bit of cricket whether it is here or at home. The season has just started at home. Guys have just come off the English tour, Champions League, as far as match readiness goes, we should be good,” said Rixon, reacting to a question whether they would liked have to play a warm-up game.