Cricket-Injury-hit Australia eager to prove their status v India

By N.Ananthanarayanan

BANGALORE, India, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Injury-hit Australia aim to prove their status as world champions when they play their first one-day international since April, stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist said on Friday.

Australia, who have not played a 50-over match since claiming the World Cup in the Caribbean, will face Twenty20 champions India on Saturday in the first of seven one dayers.

"We were probably caught short a little bit in the Twenty20," Gilchrist, whose team were knocked out in the semi-finals of the Twenty20, told a news conference.

"There is no excuse for us now. We've had plenty of time and we know the conditions well."

Wicketkeeper Gilchrist will lead the team on Saturday as regular skipper Ricky Ponting recovers from a hamstring injury.

Ponting trained on Friday and is expected to return later in the series but injuries will provide newcomers the opportunity to help avenge their Twenty20 semi-final loss to India.

"We've got six changes for our first one-day international since the World Cup final through retirements, injuries and babies being born," said Gilchrist.

"Over the years we've shown that we have great depth. We'll be able to put out a team tomorrow that will be able to win the game."