Time to experiment

Waugh may never play one-day internationals again

Mark Waugh knows a thing or two about one-day international cricket.

Never mind the fact he won't be in Sri Lanka for the ICC Champions Trophy.

His enormous pedigree includes 18 centuries in 244 one-day appearances, but it looks now that he may be marooned on 8,500 runs at this level.

Neither he nor his twin Steve are part of the Australian selectors' World Cup plans at present.

It's better to be favourites for the tournament than 100-1 outsiders

Mark Waugh

And only a sharp loss of form by some of the one-day batsmen in the current squad will see a return to the fold for either of the Waughs.

In an exclusive interview for BBC Sport Online, Waugh was nevertheless happy to talk about the ICC Champions Trophy.

But he said it was important people did not read too much into the results in Colombo.

"Whoever wins the tournament, it will give them a bit of confidence for the World Cup.

"The way I see it, though, is that it's much closer to a knockout tournament.

"You get a bit of time to work out your problems but most of the teams will be trying combinations.

Best line-up

"It could be a tournament where teams might try a few things to work out exactly what their best line-up is."

So how important is it for Australia, as favourites for the World Cup, to win the ICC Champions Trophy as well?

Shane Watson has come in at the Waughs' expense

"They've just flogged Pakistan in Kenya and that just shows their class," says Waugh. "The Aussies will be well prepared.

"But it won't be the end of the world if we don't win in Sri Lanka, though I guess it's better to be favourites for the tournament than 100-1 outsiders.

"Mind you, I don't think players worry about whether they are favourites or not. You've got to play well consistently."

At this early stage, Waugh also reckons Australia are looking in fine shape for the World Cup as well, though he is not overly-bullish.

"It's not just a case of turning up and winning the World Cup," he says. "You've got to be confident and injury-free.

"That said, Australia have become the best-performing team in world cricket in the last three years and there's plenty of depth there."