After losing the fourth ODI to England, Australia are keen to bolster their squad with the return of captain Michael Clarke. PHOTO: FILE AFP
Australian skipper Michael Clarke will return for the final One-Day International (ODI) against England on Sunday, with coach Darren Lehmann warning the tourists will have gained confidence from their first win on the tour against the home team.
After dominating England this summer, Australia were outplayed in the fourth game in Perth on Friday – losing by 57 runs.
“We didn’t bat very well; we certainly didn’t bowl well,” said Lehmann. “So we need to bounce back to win.”
Australia held an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match ODI series going into the Perth game and fielded an understrength side which was minus Clarke, keeper Brad Haddin, Shane Watson and David Warner who were all rested.
George Bailey, who stood in for Clarke as captain, said it made a difference playing without them but defended Australia’s decision to rest the key players.
“You want to win every game you play,” he said. “But given how crammed the schedule is, I think if you do get an opportunity to rest a few of the guys, you take the option.”
Watson will also return for the fifth ODI but Mitchell Johnson will be rested ahead of next month’s tour of South Africa, along with Warner and Haddin.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 26th, 2014.
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