Clarke says Oz deserves to be ODI favourites ahead of triangular series against India, Sri Lanka

Australian Herald (ANI) Sunday 5th February, 2012

Australian captain Michael Clarke has said his team deserves to be regarded as favourites, ahead of the triangular one-day series against Sri Lanka and India.

"We're the No. 1 one-day team in the world so I'd like to think we are favourites but in saying that we have to play at our best to beat both these teams. They were both in the final of our most recent World Cup so hopefully, like I said throughout the Test series, I'm confident if we play our best cricket we can win this series," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Clarke, as saying.

"The way they fielded last night is how you need to field in one-day cricket and Twenty20 cricket and Test cricket to have success," he added.

Australia is ranked No. 1 in the world for ODIs and have won eight of 11 games under Clarke's captaincy.

Of the newcomers to the squad, only wicketkeeper Matthew Wade is assured of making his ODI debut in the first match.

Out of favour wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has received assurances from the selectors that he has been rested rather than axed for the first three games, but his position is still insecure.

"There's been a lot of talk about it.I don't think Brad's that bothered by it, he knows what he has to do, put numbers on the board, and I'm sure he will get another opportunity," Clarke added.

Uncapped Queensland batsman Peter Forrest and emerging all-rounder Mitch Marsh are also included the squad.

Australia squad: Michael Clarke (c), David Warner, Ricky Ponting, Peter Forrest, Daniel Christian, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Matthew Wade, Brett Lee, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Starc, Xavier Doherty, Clint Mckay, Mitchell Marsh

India squad: M. S. Dhoni (c), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Manoj Tiwary, Parthiv Patel, Zaheer Khan, Umesh Yadav, Irfan Pathan, Vinay Kumar, Praveen Kumar, Rahul Sharma, Ravi Ashwin(ANI)