Rising Australian batting star Michael Clarke on Wednesday played down suggestions his team would breeze through the upcoming tri-nations one-day international series here. A potentially depleted Australia will square-up to the West Indies in the opening match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday to kick-start the series that also features Pakistan. In all, the teams will play each other three times before the top two meet in a best of three finals series.
But Clarke dismissed any suggestion that his world-champion team would breeze past two of cricket's more unpredictable sides, despite their recent 3-0 Test series win over Pakistan.
"I can only look back at the West Indies in the ICC (Champions) Trophy and they won that and they played great cricket throughout the whole tournament," Clarke said.
"I think it's going to be a great series, and Pakistan will be a real tough team to beat in the one-dayers." Australia may take on the West Indies missing at least two key batsmen, including Clarke, who has a mysterious foot injury, and Simon Katich, the replacement for regular opener Matthew Hayden who is being rested.
Katich has an acute throat infection which has seen him isolated from his team-mates while a decision on Clarke's availability will be made on Thursday.
Scans on his injured right foot Wednesday did not reveal the source of the soreness.
Should the pair be forced out, in-form Test opener Justin Langer, who has not been considered for one-day cricket for eight years, could be called into the side.
He played the last of eight one-day internationals against England at Lord's in 1997.
Hayden, the regular opening batsman for Australia in both Test and one-day cricket, has been rested by selectors for two games after appearing lethargic and out of touch.
He will not be recalled for the West Indian match, selectors said.
Other possibilities include blooding Australia A batsman David Hussey who made a century against the West Indies in Hobart last weekend and 45 in the match against Pakistan in Adelaide on Wednesday.
Despite the setbacks, Clarke remains confident he will be fit to play.
"It feels alright at the moment, so hopefully I'll pull up alright tomorrow," he said. "I've had a few days taking it easy, staying off my feet."
The West Indies, who opened their tour in style with a four-wicket warm-up win over Australia A, including a knock of 116 from 86 balls by captain Brian Lara, will name their final selection on Friday.
TEAMS:
AUSTRALIA (from): Ricky Ponting (captain), Simon Katich, Adam Gilchrist, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehman, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Brad Hogg.
WEST INDIES (from): Brian Lara (captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo, Courtney Browne, Ian Bradshaw, Pedro Collins, Mervyn Dillon, Reon King, Xavier Marshal.