First steps to glory

Less than a week after getting his hands on the replica crystal urn, Michael Clarke couldn’t avoid the opportunity to take a peek into the crystal ball.

As Clarke and his rival Ashes skipper Alastair Cook met at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on the eve of the Carlton Mid ODI Series, in addition to showing off the trophy on offer for the five-match tournament they were asked to nurse the ICC World Cup that will be up for grabs in 2015.

Posing with the gilded orb at the stadium that will host the showpiece final on March 29 next year, Clarke acknowledged that while the ODI series beginning tomorrow is vital in its own right, it also provides both teams with a handy sighter before the quadrennial 50-over tournament begins in less than 400 days.

For Australia, success in the Carlton Mid series would not only boost their ambition to reclaim the world No.1 one-day ranking from India but it would fuel interest in the 50-over format, which has become the poor relation to Test and Twenty20 fans here in recent years.

For England, it offers a timely shot at redemption after a lamentable Ashes campaign as well as knowledge they can mix it with the best in the white ball caper in the conditions where their next shot at a world title that has eluded them for 40 years will be decided.

It is the knowledge that the Ashes rivals – currently ranked second and third respectively in the ICC one-day rankings – are likely to figure prominently at the business end of the six-week World Cup that adds some additional piquancy to this 50-over contest.

“Playing in the same facility you're going to play the World Cup in, same pitches, against an opposition that is going to play a huge role - I think England is going to be extremely tough to beat in the World Cup,” Clarke said today.

“So this is going to be great preparation, but this series is going to be extremely important for us as a one-day unit.

“I said before the last two Test matches that we as a Test team had a lot to play for because we were ranked fifth at the time and we want to get back to number one.

“I say the same about this one-day unit.

“We know we are not the number one team in the world at this stage (but) we want to be the number one team in the world. That is our goal.”

While both teams feature significantly different personnel to the Test line-ups, the Australians have opted to grant Ashes hero Mitchell Johnson a much-deserved rest and also opted not to include his fellow express paceman James Pattinson in their starting XI for tomorrow.

That means the fast-bowling duties will be shared by James Faulkner, Clint McKay, Jackson Bird and Nathan Coulter-Nile, while Shaun Marsh is forced to wait at least another match to make his ODI return.

The top-order batting responsibilities will carry a distinctive Test look, with Ashes opener David Warner to partner limited-overs specialist Aaron Finch at the outset followed by Shane Watson and then Clarke.

And while Johnson will return to the fold for game two in Brisbane, where Watson is due to take a spell, Clarke claims he is not seeking a break from his captaincy duties despite the high-pressure build-up and the relentless spotlight of the Ashes campaign.

“I feel good at the moment and that (taking a rest) will be decided by the people well and truly above me,” Clarke said today. “If they think I should miss a game then I'll have that conversation with 'Boof' (coach Darren Lehmann) and the selectors.

“But right now I'm really keen to help this team win this one-day series.

“Winning the (fifth) Test in three days gave everyone a couple of extra days off which is nice.

“But I missed the recent one-day series in India (having) played in England and enjoyed the one-day series.

“So it's going to be nice to be back out there and playing some one-day stuff.”

Cook did not follow Clarke’s lead and pre-emptively name England’s starting XI for tomorrow’s series opener, but he is buoyed by the knowledge that a number of his ODI squad have been fine-tuning their white ball skills with cameo appearances in the KFC Big Bash League.

After his horror Ashes series was compounded by a week of dressing room politics played out in the public eye, Cook might also take solace by recent history that shows the team that has come up short in Ashes Tests has in variably triumphed in the one-day series that followed.

That includes the previous England squad to suffer a five-nil Ashes whitewash in 2006-07, a team of which Cook was a part.

"We came here to take the Ashes home and I think everyone knows how important the Ashes is to English people and Australian people,” Cook said today.

"Now that we've lost them - if we win this one-day series we salvage some pride from our performances.

“It's an exciting time for a lot of these young players in this side (because) they know they have a World Cup in a year's time.

“After seeing what has happened to the Test team … I know that those guys who are coming in - well I hope they know - they'd be pretty stupid if they don't know that there is a lot of places up for grabs."

More information

The Carlton Mid ODI Series is Summer’s Biggest Dress Up Party and fans are encouraged to attend in their best costumes for their chance to win big prizes, including $10,000 for Best Dressed of the Series. For more information, visit www.cricket.com.au/dressupcomp

Fans are encouraged to avoid queues at the gate and pre-purchase tickets online. There are tickets available on the gate but the best way to make sure you don't miss any of the action is to buy your tickets online early.

For groups of four or more going to matches in Melbourne and Brisbane, there is an option to buy four tickets for $99. Booking and transaction fees do apply but this is great value and a great way to save if you come with mates. Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate.

Cricket Australia will partner with Redfrogs Australia at the ODI on 12 January at the MCG. Redfrogs Australia, a support program for young people, will be handing out cups of water, icy poles and red frog lollies to fans as part of CA's Know When to Declare responsible drinking campaign. 

There's a great range of off-field activities throughout the series. These include:

-    Have your photo taken by the Carlton Mid ODI Promotional teams

-    Win a chance to join us on field and take home up to $40,000 in cash in Carlton Mid’s 'Stay Till Stumps' Challenge during the Innings Break.

-    Wear your best costume for your chance to win your way into the Aussie or English Dress Up Decks – a dedicated area for fans which provides a unique viewing experience of the match, from a raised platform within the venue (except at the Adelaide Oval).

-    Celebrate Australia Day at the Adelaide Oval match, with a live performance from James Reyne during the innings break.

            -    The rivalry between Australia and England will also extend to the music throughout the match, with a great playlist of Aussie and English songs throughout the day.