Cricket World Cup: George Bailey says Australian team’s consistency is a big strength

AUSTRALIA’S World Cup squad has proven it is the real deal despite injuries, inexperience and the pressure of a home tournament, George Bailey says.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 01: George Bailey of Australia bats during the final match of the Carlton Mid One Day International series between Australia and England at the WACA on February 1, 2015 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

AUSTRALIA’S World Cup squad has proven it is the real deal despite injuries, inexperience and the pressure of a home tournament bearing down on the host, George Bailey says.

England paceman Stuart Broad has stoked the hostilities between cricket's old enemies by predicting Australia would not even make the March 29 World Cup final.

The Aussies face England in their World Cup pool match opener at the MCG on Saturday having smashed the Poms by 112 runs in the tri-series final a week ago.

But Bailey, who captained the Aussies during the victorious tri-series, refused to buy in to Broad’s jab.

“No, that’s fine,” he said. “And it doesn’t really matter, does it. Like everyone in the world, that’s just an opinion and it will have zero effect on any game or any result.”

Long-term fitness question marks continue to hover over Michael Clarke while James Faulkner is on hold with a side strain.

Only Clarke, Brad Haddin, Steve Smith, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson in the Aussies’ 15-man squad have World Cup experience.

But Bailey said consistency and team understanding that has taken Australia to No. 1 on one-day international ranking was more important than World Cup appearances.

“We’re not very experienced as far as World Cups go — we’ve only got (five) guys who have played in one,” he said. “So hopefully that doesn’t hold up in this world Cup.”

“But in terms of our last 12 or 18 months, the way we’ve played has been consistent regardless of who’s been in the 11. And we’ve had a reasonably consistent group.

“Certainly this 15 would’ve played the majority of the one-day cricket.

“So I think we all understand how everyone around us plays and I think that’s important. That’s probably more important than experience — that awareness of your team members and what their roles are and how they do it.”

Originally published as Cricket World Cup: George Bailey says Australian team’s consistency is a big strength