Cricket Australia accepts focus to regain Test supremacy affected ODI results

Sydney, July 13 (ANI): Cricket Australia has accepted that its determination to regain supremacy in the five day game might have affected its one-day results, despite skipper Michael Clarke ruling out that the team is not sacrificing the fortunes of the one-day team for the benefit of Test development.

The immediate consequences of Australia's dreadful limited-overs tour of England will be known next week when selectors pick the one-day squad for a series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

CA team performance chief Pat Howard said it was tough to strike a balance between building a No.1 Test team and maintaining ODI standards.

While George Bailey has made the most of his first two one-day series, the introduction of Peter Forrest, regarded as a potential Test batsman, and the return of Steve Smith have been less successful, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

"There is a possibility, and there is a fine balance, that to try and deal with Test improvement there's been a balance between ODI success and trying to develop players. Obviously that tour wasn't acceptable and we've got to improve a lot in the next 12 months," Howard said.

"We wanted people to develop and grow, and that takes time. There has been a methodology that the best players are the best players, and we'd get them in and expose them at different levels. We don't make any excuses for our performances in England.

"We're not going to throw out that it was a development tour. Four-nil wasn't good enough," he said.

Pat Cummins, who has a side strain and was unveiled as a star recruit for the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League yesterday, would be handled with care,

Howard said. CA is working to ensure his workload is closely monitored whether he is with his country, his state or his BBL team.

"Our big concern is making sure guys are ready to play long-form cricket because that's the one you worry about, with the big stresses. We don't want people to stop playing but it's part of that process of building up endurance over time," he said. (ANI)