Clarke to replace Bailey, Watson 'on notice': Border

World Cup-winning skipper Allan Border expects George Bailey to be dropped for Michael Clarke's return for Australia's next match, but warned Shane Watson was "on notice" to retain his spot.

Clarke is set to meet the February 21 deadline to prove his fitness imposed by Cricket Australia's National Selection Panel and take his place as skipper for Saturday's World Cup pool game against Bangladesh in Brisbane.

Border, who guided Australia to the World Cup crown in 1987 and is a member of the Fox Sports television team covering the Cricket World Cup, said Bailey's runs against England in the Cup opener on Saturday had made the selectors job all the more difficult, but still believed he would make way.

"George was the obvious candidate a few days ago," said Border. "But I thought his performance against England was very, very good.

"Australia were just teetering having lost three pretty quick wickets and George and Aaron Finch just steadied the ship.

"I thought he really started to get some flow into his innings. He's not been in his best form but it's amazing how it can turn around quickly.

"That innings could be just what he needed; he was scratchy early but started to really blossom towards the end." 

Despite the return to form and the anguish it will cause at the selection table, Border still tipped Clarke to depose his stand-in skipper for a place in the XI.

Border said Watson, who was dismissed for a first-ball duck at the MCG and bowled three wicket-less overs, was too big an asset to be jettisoned just yet.

"Watson will be watched closely though," warned Border.

"He's been struggling for his best form but he can just spring into action at any time.

"I'm backing him to come good (but) he will be on notice." 

No chance for Bangladesh: Faulkner

Complicating the selection headaches further for Australia is the impending return to fitness of allrounder James Faulkner. The Tasmanian today ruled himself out of Saturday's meeting with Bangladesh and with Mitchell Marsh starring with 5-33 against England, it creates another tough call at the selection table.

"James (Faulkner) at his best is in our best XI for sure," said Border.

"It's better to have positive headaches than negative ones but it's going to be hard decisions and some very tough calls to determine what our best XI is when everyone is fit.

"Hopefully the selectors will get that balance right."

With all five teams to have batted first in this tournament so far passing 300 – and Ireland chasing down the West Indies' total with 25 balls to spare in Nelson today, Border said a 400-run total was a distinct possibility.

"There'll be some game the openers just explode into action and it will be hard to stem the flow of runs," said Border.

"A lot of those grounds in New Zealand seem pretty small to me. The opportunity for boundaries is there with the greater hitting capacity and power game the blokes bring these days." 

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Border holding the World Cup trophy in 1987 // Getty Images

Border captained Australia during the last World Cup on home soil, in 1992-93, when an under-prepared side were "ambushed" by New Zealand and exited before the knock-out stages. It's not a scenario he sees being repeated.

"I think they've done their homework. Back in 92-93 I don't think we really targeted the World Cup as much as these guys have in our preparation.

"We came out of a Test series and before we knew it we played our first game in New Zealand. We got ambushed over there by a good team who were really well prepared and we just lost our mojo there for a few weeks.

"If you do that in this sort of competition it's hard to get yourself back into it.

"This team have started well, they are well prepared, they are embracing the fact we're playing in our back yard. Where else would you rather be?

"I like that attitude and I think these guys are ready to rock and roll."

Australia’s World Cup Fixtures

February 14: beat England by 111 runs at the MCG

February 21: v Bangladesh, 1:30pm at the Gabba

February 28: v New Zealand, 2:00pm at Eden Park (NZ)

March 4: v Afghanistan, 2:30pm at the WACA

March 8: v Sri Lanka, 2:30pm at the SCG

March 13: v Scotland, 2:30pm at Blundstone Arena

View the full fixture list here