Fired-up Aussies tempting for one-day series

Australia know all about Kevin Pietersen's ability and he will be a key man for the World XI © Getty Images

It may sound a bit strange but Australia will probably be a little relieved to forget about Test cricket for a little while as they prepare for next week's three one-day internationals against an ICC World XI. Defeat in the Ashes will not be sitting well with the world champions and I expect them to bounce back in style.

The bookies, though, appear to believe the defeats will have knocked their confidence as the Rest of the World are 8/11 (1.72) favourites with bet365 to come out on top in the three-game series, the first of which is to be played on October 5. All three matches are day-nighters in the Telstra Dome in Melbourne, and with a host of great players on both sides, the series looks set to be entertaining, at the very least.

Normally, I would suggest that you keep your money well hidden away somewhere safe for a series like this, which, for all intents and purposes, is an exhibition event. However, what happened in England has changed things. Australia, who are even money, will be desperate to get back on track, while the stars in the Rest of the World side will be looking to perform on the big stage.

With typical ruthlessness, the Australia selectors have culled a few of the England tour under-achievers from their one-day squad, with Matthew Hayden, Jason Gillepie and Michael Kasprowicz all dropped. Damien Martyn, who has been dropped from the Test squad, stays in but he'll be under pressure from the likes of Brad Hodge, who has been effective as a second-spinner and late-order hitter in recent times.

With England heroes Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff joined by established stars such as Brian Lara, Rahul Dravid, Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis and Muttiah Muralitharan, the Rest of the World side is mightily strong on paper, but getting a disparate group of players to gel in double quick time is never easy and coach John Wright has a tough task on his hands.

That would seem to be even harder if we have a quick look at the statistics. Australia have won 60.5% of their 600 one-day internationals, while they've also won 14 of their last 20. At home, that record is even better. Their win rate is 62%, and they've won 15 and lost just three of their last 20.

With so much to prove, I think Australia will be really fired up for this one, and those coming into the side will be out to show they deserve their place. Into the mix you can also throw Shane Warne, who has not played an fully-fledged one-day match for Australia in almost three years, and their chances look even better as the leg-spinner has been on the winning side in 64% of his one-dayers.