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Smith not worried about Ashes hangover

New ODI skipper expects new inclusions to bring exuberance and energy to one-day matches

An influx of new players, including three uncapped young guns, will ensure there is no Ashes hangover which drifts into Australia's one-day campaign.

Australia handed back the Ashes to England following a 3-2 series defeat which was followed by the retirement of captain Michael Clarke.

But new captain Steve Smith is confident his new group will be unaffected.

Eight members of the 15-man limited-overs squad, including uncapped trio Joe Burns, Ashton Agar and Marcus Stoinis, have been flown in specifically for the one-day component of the tour, which starts on Thursday with a ODI clash with Ireland in Belfast.

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Paceman Pat Cummins was a late call-up for the Ashes, following the pre-series injury to Ryan Harris, and didn't play a Test - and veteran allrounder Shane Watson only featured in the opening fixture in Cardiff.

But Smith said the disappointment of those who were part of the losing Ashes series wouldn't be a factor.

"It's been a tough tour for us. It's disappointing to have lost the Ashes," Smith said.

"(But we have a) new group now with some younger, newer guys who hopefully can bring some exuberance and energy to help lift the spirits a bit and help get back on track (and) hopefully start my career in captaincy on this one-day tour on a winning note."

Smith, meanwhile, expects to face a tricky proposition in his first official assignment as Australian captain against an Irish outfit who were desperately unlucky not to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup in February.

Image Id: ~/media/56151FA7A098473B967A117D341B69F2

Ireland's John Mooney // Getty Images

Ireland were edged out of the knockout stages by the West Indies on net run rate, despite beating the Calypso Kings in their opening fixture of the tournament.

"I think they're an improving side," Smith said.

"They've got some good players that can take a game away from you a little bit.

"We're going to continue to try and emulate what we did in the World Cup and, hopefully, start off our tour on a high note."

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Smith is also eager to stamp his authority as skipper.

"I'm very excited. Obviously, I've known for a little while now that I was going to be taking over the one-day squad, so I've been working pretty hard and preparing (for) everything coming up," Smith said.

"The last time this group was together, we won a World Cup, so I don't think we have to change a whole heap.

"We're currently No.1 in the world. I think for us now, it's just about raising that bar and continuing to get better each day."

Smith has learned from and played under Australia's most-recent skippers, Clarke and Ricky Ponting, and says he has gleaned a great deal from both of them.

Clarke has been hailed as one of the game's master tacticians - able to have a great impact on a match through his bowling changes and fielding placements.

Ponting had been viewed more as a leader through action, which is an approach Smith will lean towards.

"Hopefully, first and foremost, I can keep making runs," he said.

"That's pretty important to me - to make sure I'm leading from the front."

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While admitting he will draw on some aspects of Clarke's captaincy - notably the aggressive, win-at-all-costs mentality - Smith is adamant he is his own man.

And that means he will likely be implementing a few changes in how the team is run.

"Maybe just a few things around the group," he said, when pressed on what he would do differently.

"(But) particularly with the one-day set-up, I think we're in a really good place."