Quantcast

Bailey upbeat for belated ODI series start

Australian vice-captain George Bailey doesn't care who England have or haven't selected for the one-day series, he just wants to beat them.

"I couldn't give a toss who England pick," was Bailey's frank reply when asked of the hosts' decision to rest Ashes stars Alastair Cook, Stuart Broad, Ian Bell, James Anderson and Graeme Swann.

"I worry about playing for Australia and how we play and who we pick.

"What the other teams do, no interest."

QUICK SINGLE: Old Trafford ODI preview

Weather permitting, the teams will meet for a belated start to the five-match series in Manchester on Sunday after game one in Leeds was washed out without a ball being bowled on Friday.

Despite the frustration of another rain interruption on their marathon tour of the UK, spirits remain high within the Australian camp as they look to end their three-month visit on a high.

And while England's decision to rest most of their big names has taken some sting out of the series from a spectator's point of view, it hasn't dampened Australian vice-captain George Bailey's determination.

Australia's tour has so far featured a 3-0 Ashes series loss, a winless Champions Trophy campaign and only two wins across all formats - a Twenty20 game against England and an ODI victory over minnows Scotland.

With the limited overs tour of India coming up in October, as well as the return Ashes series in the Australian summer, Bailey said motivation to finish strongly was high.

"We want to win some more games," Bailey said.

"We want to leave England on a high by winning a series and we're hoping to put behind us a pretty disappointing Champions Trophy leading into what's going to be a huge summer.

"It'd be great to play some good cricket and we feel like we've got some good cricket in us.

"Hopefully we've got four great games ahead of us."

A forecast chance of rain in Manchester on Sunday threatens another setback for the series but conditions are expected to be significantly better than those in Leeds.

Bailey said the dreadful weather had allowed some time for more training and strength and conditioning work amid a busy schedule of games.

Australia are expected to field a similar side to the one which beat Scotland by 200 runs last week, with openers Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh likely keeping Phillip Hughes out of the side.

Allrounder Chris Jordan and seam bowler Jamie Overton are possible debutants for England.