Australia's split team paying World Cup dividends, says Marsh

Australia two years ago decided to separate the selection of Test and limited overs teams and series wins at home, in South Africa and Pakistan have followed.

``If you look at our performances over the past 12 months we've gone from a 40 per cent to a 60 per cent win-loss ratio,'' Marsh said.

``There's an improvement there. We went with a specialist one-day side because of performances before that were well down and below 40 per cent.''

But Australia's preparation for the home series with England and Sri Lanka has been disrupted with acting skipper Shane Warne and vice-captain Mark Waugh in Melbourne giving evidence at the match-fixing inquiry.

Regular captain Steve Waugh has a hamstring injury and will miss matches against England here on Sunday and Sri Lanka in Sydney on Wednesday.

Meanwhile four other team members - Greg Blewett, Brad Young, Adam Dale and Damien Martyn - played for Australia A against Sri Lanka in Melbourne on Friday.

The six will arrive Saturday for a late training session.

Marsh does not believe having just seven players available to train Friday would be a problem but looks on it as the start to the World Cup campaign in England in May-June.

``We've got 13 games in Australia here if we make the finals and that's a really good buildup to the World Cup,'' Marsh said.

``Our goal this year is quite simple and that is to be more consistent and win more games in the buildup.''

Greg Blewett, a prolific scorer in Sheffield Shield cricket but overlooked for the recent Test series against England, is likely to bat in Steve Waugh's position in the first two games.

Australia (probable): Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Bevan, Greg Blewett, Damien Martyn, Shane Warne (capt), Brad Young, Adam Dale, Damien Fleming, Glenn McGrath.