Maher to get the nod

NAIROBI - Queenslander Jimmy Maher will be given the nod to fill the batting spot vacated by the injured Darren Lehmann when Australia names its team to take on Pakistan in their one-day international at Nairobi on Friday.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting said the team had not been decided but suggested Maher would be included to play his ninth one-day international in a late-blossoming career.

"We haven't really spoken about the make up of the side but it's safe to say Jimmy Maher will come in," Ponting said at a press conference today.

Andrew Symonds and Nathan Hauritz are likely to be rested along with one of the four quick bowlers.

Ponting wanted the Australians to avoid the pitfall of being a slow starter but expected the side to get better the longer it played together.

"Historically, after a break, it seems to take the Australian team some time to get back to playing their best in one-day games," Ponting said.

"I don't think we should expect too much from the first couple of games - we want to work our way into it and play our best when the big games come around."

By that Ponting meant the final of this series, which - barring catastrophic mishaps against the third side Kenya - will feature Australian and Pakistan.

But he would also have one eye on the opening match of the Champions Trophy match in Sri Lanka, where Australia would like to beat New Zealand first-up to secure a place in the semifinals.

Pakistan captain Waqar Younis admitted the Yousuf Youhana affair had been detrimental to the team. Youhana, one of the best one-day batsmen in the world, was sent home from the tournament for disciplinary reasons.

"Yousuf Youhana is a good batsman and a key member of our side but unfortunately he's not here so we have to cope with what we've got," Younis said.

What Pakistan have got is a fit-again Shoaib Akhtar, who has recovered from a hamstring niggle and is ready to bowl fast in the thin air of Nairobi, which is 1,800 metres above sea level.

Meanwhile, Kenyan captain Steve Tikolo, said his side would play positive cricket as it tries to pull another mighty upset to match victories over West Indies and India.

Australian squad: Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Michael Bevan, Jimmy Maher, Shane Watson, Shane Warne, Andy Bichel, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath, Andrew Symonds, Nathan Hauritz.