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Stand-in Australia captain Michael Clarke believes England’s decision to abolish domestic 50-over cricket could affect their one-day international performances.
The England and Wales Cricket board last week announced counties would retain 40-over games, but Clarke remains confident the 50-over format will survive in Australia and internationally, along with Twenty20 and Tests.
“I’m pretty confident that the 50-over cricket will stay in Australia in our domestic competition and I’m very confident it will stay at the international level,” Clarke said.
“I certainly see room for all three forms of the game still in international cricket.”
“They’ve obviously got reasons for that,” Clarke added of England’s decision.
“They’ve got so much cricket on they probably thought that was the one for them to get rid of, but I’m certain it will stay at the international level.
“That’s probably my only worry, is how it will affect England playing one-day cricket at international level.”
Clarke was preparing to lead Australia in two Twenty20 matches and the first three of seven one-day internationals against England.
Captain Ricky Ponting will return for the last four one-dayers after taking a break following his team’s Ashes defeat.
Clarke said Australia’s first goal was to start turning around their disappointing Twenty20 record ahead of for next year’s world championship.
“Right now we’re in a position where we’re giving some new guys an opportunity,” Clarke said.
“We feel we haven’t performed as well as we w’d like in Twenty20 cricket in general and this is a good chance to build up some momentum and get some form and get some results, win a few games, leading up to that Twenty20 world championship.”
Clarke said Cricket Australia’s decision to fly Twenty20 specialists like Dirk Nannes and David Hussey to England for two Twenty20 games showed a commitment to improving the team’s performances in the newest form of the game.
Having played as allies for Victoria and now Australia, Hussey and Nannes will be foes in the opening match of the Champions League Twenty20 competition in October.
The Bushrangers take on Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise the Delhi Daredevils, who have secured Nannes’ services, in the opening match of the tournament, which brings together teams from India, Australia, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and the West Indies.
Hussey said: “We wanted him at Victoria for the Champions League, but unfortunately Delhi have Dirk and we’ll have to take him down there and hopefully win the silverware.”
Nannes, who represented the Netherlands at the World Twenty20 in June, said he had signed an agreement with Delhi which didn’t give him the choice to play for Victoria.
But the Melbourne-born paceman, who made his Australian debut in Friday’s one-dayer against Scotland, suggested it would be no different from his Australian teammates competing against each other for their states or IPL teams, or when he played for the Dutch.
“It’s an awkward situation for sure, but cricket is a funny game,” Nannes said.
“We’re all used to playing against each other.
“I’ve played against these guys a lot in all forms of the game. It’s going to be an interesting one, but it’s going to be hard-fought and we’ll have a beer afterwards and we’ll go back and play together back home.”
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