Aussies keep the faith for ODIs

Australia has retained the same squad that went undefeated through the Carlton series for the five-match one-day series against India. The only change to the 14-man team, named on Saturday, is the addition of fit fast bowler Jason Gillespie, who is part of the Test squad currently on tour.

Victorian all-rounder Ian Harvey’s place is subject to a fitness test shortly before the players depart. Harvey, a lower order batsman and handy medium-pacer renowned for his ability to bowl at the death, fractured his thumb in a domestic match on March 3.

Five new players will fly to India to join their Test counterparts for the one-day series, which begins on March 25. Going over are Michael Bevan, Darren Lehmann, Andrew Symonds, Nathan Bracken and Harvey, while flying home after the third Test are Michael Slater, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Colin Miller and Michael Kasprowicz.

Seeing no reason to tamper with a winning combination, the Australian selectors decided there is still no place for dynamic opener Michael Slater, nor off-spinner Colin Miller. Adam Gilchrist remains the sole wicket-keeper and Shane Warne the lone specialist spinner in a squad that includes six batsmen, five bowlers and two all-rounders (Symonds and Harvey). With captain Steve Waugh believing the strength of the team remains the same regardless of who is in the playing XI, it is possible Australia will rotate players for each match.

Aside from the absence of Brett Lee, the Australian one-day team is as strong as it has been since its World Cup victory in 1999. The last time Australia and India met in one-day cricket was in the quarterfinals of the ICC Knockout in Nairobi last October, when India won by 20 runs. The last game between the teams on Indian soil was the final of the Pepsi tri-series in April 1998, which Australia won by 4 wickets. In total, the sides have met in 62 matches, with Australia winning 36, India winning 23, and 3 no results.

Australia is on a 10-match winning streak in one-day internationals, one short of the world record set by West Indies in 1985.

The Squad:

Steve Waugh (c), Adam Gilchrist (v-c), Michael Bevan, Nathan Bracken, Damien Fleming, Jason Gillespie, Ian Harvey, Darren Lehmann, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds, Shane Warne, Mark Waugh.

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