'Australia deserve to be favourites'

Australia have won eight of their 11 one-day internationals since Michael Clarke became captain.

SMP images - Ryan Schembri

THE new India, who belatedly made an appearance at the MCG on Friday night, have not shaken Michael Clarke's conviction that his team deserve to be regarded as favourites leading into the triangular one-day series that starts at the same venue today.

M. S. Dhoni's one-day team held aloft the World Cup last year, defeating Sri Lanka in the final, while a revitalised India won the second Twenty20 international by eight wickets on Friday night with a more youthful and energetic side than was thrashed 4-0 in the Tests.

Injuries and an urge to blood new players have led to a new-look Australian squad for the first three matches, too. Only four players from the team that lost the World Cup quarter-final - Clarke, ex-captain Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey and veteran paceman Brett Lee - remain.

Still, Australia is ranked No. 1 in the world for ODIs and have won eight of 11 games since Clarke became captain.

Read more at brisbanetimes.com.au