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The Australian cricket team captain Ricky Ponting says he’ll use the tri-series with India and the West Indies to experiment with line-up combinations ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy and next year’s World Cup.

Australia opens the three-team tournament against the West Indies on Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur, giving them just two full days in unfamiliar conditions in Malaysia to prepare.

“These opportunities are the ones we have to make the most of,” Ponting said on Saturday when the team left Australia. “The whole idea of this series is to try and give everyone a couple of games at least. Andrew Hilditch (chairman of selectors) has already got mapped out possible teams for the upcoming games and when we get there we’ll let the guys know who’s playing when,” he added.

Australia could play five games in 13 days if it reaches the Sept 24 final. With wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist not travelling to Malaysia, the selectors have greater freedom to continue to rotate the one-day batting line-up in search of the ideal combination, Ponting said.

Contenders for an opening berth, Phil Jaques, Mark Cosgrove and the recalled Matthew Hayden, have all been named in the 18-man party although the three missed the cut for the reduced-size 14-man Champions Trophy squad.

Damien Martyn has been suggested as an outside possibility as Gilchrist’s preferred opening partner in next month’s Champions Trophy but Simon Katich is favoured, said Ponting.

Ponting said he would continue to have the “highest expectations” of fast bowler Glenn McGrath despite his lack of match action in the past nine months. “He feels 25 again,” Ponting smiled. “I think we’ll try and give Glenn as much bowling as we can (in Malaysia). Glenn’s one that’s thrived with lots of bowling over the years,” he added.

McGrath has not played since January, missing series in South Africa and Bangladesh to spend time with his wife when she was treated for cancer.
Source:The News