Let's hope World Cup fever still proves to be catching, because the ICC has decided to limit its horizons from here on out

Aaron Finch has declared Michael Clarke's comeback into Australia's one-day outfit "a great success", and said the captain did not appear to be hampered by his hamstring during his innings of 64

Michael Clarke's steady comeback from hamstring surgery continued at the MCG, where he made 64, then bowled and fielded effectively in Australia's clinical victory over the UAE in their final World Cup warm-up game

For the UAE players, a normal day involves waking up at 6 AM, working a 9 to 5 day job, and then driving back long distances for a four-hour training session; all out of their commitment to do well in only their second World Cup

ICC chief executive David Richardson has conceded that it is hard to guarantee large numbers of games for leading Associate teams Ireland and Afghanistan in their attempts to qualify for the 2019 World Cup in England

While Australia no longer have that air of invincibility around them, home advantage and strong ODI form could skew the odds in their favour

Mitchell Johnson wants to focus on one game at a time with a long year ahead for Australia, starting at the World Cup

Australia's coach Darren Lehmann has confirmed that captain Michael Clarke will play Wednesday's warm-up match against the UAE in Melbourne, barring any mishaps at training before that

Mitchell Marsh is confident he can fill James Faulkner's all-round role, who continues to recover from a side strain, for the start of the World Cup

Aaron Finch has joked that his opening partner David Warner's bats are "ridiculous" in size, but he believes the absence of a fifth fielder outside the circle has a greater impact on the balance between bat and ball in ODIs

The Michael Clarke back-and-hamstring sideshow will go on, but it is James Faulkner's injury that has greater potential to hurt Australia's World Cup campaign

ESPNcricinfo's preview of the Carlton Mid Tri-Series final between Australia and England at the WACA

Michael Clarke will play grade cricket for Western Suburbs in Sydney this weekend and Cricket Australia is confident he is on track to be fit for Australia's second World Cup match against Bangladesh on February 21

ESPNcricinfo's preview of the Carlton Mid Tri-Series match between England and India at the WACA

Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers will meet in the BBL final on Wednesday on the neutral territory of Canberra's Manuka Oval

Steven Smith should cap off his remarkable summer by winning his first Allan Border Medal in Sydney on Tuesday night

Plays of the day from the Carlton Mid Tri-Series ODI, between Australia and England in Hobart

Before this game, Steven Smith had captained Australia in three matches. They had lost none of them, and he had scored a century in each. Now he has captained Australia in four matches. They have still lost none of them, and he has still scored a century

ESPNcricinfo's preview for the Carlton Mid Tri-Series ODI between Australia and England in Hobart

David Warner will sit out of Friday's one-day international against England in Hobart, with Shaun Marsh and Cameron White both called into the squad