Australia taking little notice of West Indies

Australia captain Ricky Ponting [Images] says the world champions are paying little attention to ICC [Images] Champions Trophy winners West Indies [Images] ahead of Friday's triangular one-day series opener between the two sides.

"We are not really worried too much about opposition teams, or focus too much on them," Ponting told a news conference at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.

"If we look after our own skills and plans tomorrow, then everything should fall into place."

Ponting led his country to World Cup glory in March 2003 and two months later Australia beat West Indies in a one-day tournament in the Caribbean.

"The last time we played them, we won the first four games of the seven-game series and they won the last three," said Ponting. "Their batting in particular is very dangerous....their big problem has been their bowling."

The Australian skipper said Michael Clarke [Images] had recovered from a foot injury and was likely to open the batting with Adam Gilchrist [Images] in the absence of Matthew Hayden [Images], who has been rested.

Batsman Simon Katich missed Thursday's training session with a throat infection.

"If Katich doesn't come up, [all rounders] Shane Watson and Brad Hogg [Images] can both play in the same side," Ponting said.

"Clarke wants to open as well and got a hundred in Zimbabwe doing that. Damien [Martyn] has done extremely well when he's had a chance to open before, so we've got the two options."

Wicketkeeper-batsman Gilchrist will on Friday become the sixth Australian to win 200 one-day international caps, following Steve Waugh, Allan Border [Images], Mark Waugh [Images], Michael Bevan [Images] and Ponting.

Despite his heavy workload, the 33-year-old Gilchrist said he had no plans to retire from one-day or Test cricket.

"Obviously in previous seasons I have missed a game or two in this series," he said.

"I'd say it's more than likely that will happen again at some stage in this series."

Pakistan begin their triangular series campaign against Australia in Hobart on Sunday.

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