Bailey claims Oz's 'consistency' despite injuries, inexperience big strength for WC

Australian batsman George Bailey has claimed that his side's World Cup squad has played consistently since the past 12 or 18 months, despite injuries, inexperience and the pressure of a home tournament bearing down on them.

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

However, Bailey, who captained the Aussies during the victorious tri-series, refused to buy in to Broad's jab, saying that that is fine, and adding that it doesn't really matter, as like everyone in the world, that is just an opinion and it would have zero effect on any game or any result, News.com.au reported.

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 Australia's 15-man squad have World Cup experience.

However, Bailey said that consistency and team understanding is what has taken Australia to number one on ODI ranking and that is more important than World Cup appearances.

Bailey said that they are not very experienced as far as World Cups go, as they have only got five guys who have played in one, so he added that hopefully that doesn't hold up in this world Cup.

But, the batsman said that in terms of Australia's last 12 or 18 months, the way they have played has been consistent regardless of who's been in the 11, and added that they have had a reasonably consistent group.

Bailey said that this 15 would have certainly played the majority of the one-day cricket. So, he claims that he believes that they all understand how everyone around them plays and believes that that's important.

Bailey claimed that that's probably more important than experience, insisting awareness of ones team members and what their roles are and how they do it.

Australia will face England in their World Cup pool match opener at the MCG on Saturday having smashed them by 112 runs in the tri-series final a week ago, the report added.