Aussie ODI team not B-graders: Bailey

Friday, 11 January 2013 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

AAP: Australia’s acting captain George Bailey has rejected claims he will lead a second-string one-day international (ODI) side against Sri Lanka and accused the Nine Network of talking them down as a TV rights ploy.

The team Bailey announced on Thursday to play in Friday’s series-opener at the MCG does little to support his case. With star batsmen Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, David Warner and dumped veteran Mike Hussey all missing, the Australian top three will all be ODI debutants – Aaron Finch, Phil Hughes and Usman Khawaja.

It will be the most ODI first-gamers Australia have fielded since 1996, when Brad Hogg, Jason Gillespie and Darren Lehmann all made their debuts against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

With Bailey, batting at number four, boasting just 13 previous ODIs himself and four-game allrounder Glenn Maxwell at number 6, the only batsmen of notable experience are David Hussey and recalled wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene (386) has played more ODIs than Australia’s entire eleven (366).

But Bailey said while it was a team picked with an eye to this year’s India and Ashes tours and the 2015 World Cup, they all warranted selection now.

“It’s still called the Australian cricket team,” Bailey told reporters after training at the MCG. “... For these two games this is the best side that Australia can put out.

“I’ve got no doubt that if guys perform well, for sure there’ll be a few debutants in this game, but going forward I think you’ll see these guys a lot more in one-day cricket, I think you’ll see some of them play Test cricket.”

The Nine Network has made clear its disappointment that fan favourites such as Warner and Mike Hussey will be missing, but Bailey suggested the broadcaster had ulterior motives.

“They’re about to go into negotiations for the TV rights,” he said. “I think that was a pretty tactical move to try to talk down one-day cricket.”

Bailey expressed strong belief in his side. “We want them to go out and bat and bowl exactly as they are and not feel as though they have to replace a Ricky Ponting or a Mike Hussey,” Bailey said. “The skills the guys have got are good enough.”

The crowd is expected to be considerably smaller than the 46,681 for Sunday night’s T20 Big Bash League derby match at the MCG. But Bailey said the one-day format remained relevant, even if most preferred to watch it on TV rather than in person.

“Big Bash is popular because it goes for three hours and fits in nicely,” he said. “There’s no doubt one-day cricket takes a bit longer.

“And I think Test matches are becoming a real event in themselves, as much about the spectacle and the event itself as the cricket.

“One-day cricket, as far as crowds go, will be challenged at different times but I still think the actual cricket itself is very, very good.”