SYDNEY: Australia captain Michael Clarke has dismissed the idea that the upcoming one-day tour of Zimbabwe might serve as a sort of extended audition for players keen to get into the squad before next year’s World Cup.

Australia’s 14-man squad departed on Wednesday for southern Africa, where they will play the hosts and South Africa in a triangular one-day series starting next Monday in Harare. It is Australia’s first international commitment since the ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh more than four months ago.

With regulars like the injured Shane Watson and rested opener David Warner not making the trip, Clarke’s squad includes a string of fringe players.

Clarke, though, scoffed at the suggestion that the relatively low key tour would provide selectors with an opportunity to give them all a chance to show what they can do.

“It’s not a token tour, it’s about winning, so the selectors with [coach] Darren Lehmann will come up with what they think is the best 11,” he told reporters at Sydney airport. “I’m certainly not there to give guys opportunities; I’m in the business of winning.”

At the same time, Clarke said the likes of all rounders Mitch Marsh and Ben Cutting as well as seam bowler Kane Richardson needed to grab their chances if they got them.

“I think they’ll see it as a chance to get a foot in the door, cement their spot, make it hard the players that aren’t on this tour,” Clarke said.

“We’ve got a lot of talent, particularly in the shorter form of the game, and now these guys are getting an opportunity and they’ve got to grab it with both hands.

“Unfortunately we’ve only got 11 spots and we’ve probably got 20 players who are ready to be a part of that 11 so now it comes down to consistent performance.”

Following Zimbabwe, Australia play Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates and then host South Africa, England and India in limited-overs fixtures plus Tests before the 2015 World Cup.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2014