CHANNEL 9 is furious that Australia has picked a second string one-day side to begin the five-match series against Sri Lanka.

Just three players from the Test team that beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in Sydney yesterday for a 3-0 clean sweep have been chosen for the first two one-day matches.



Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Phil Hughes are the only survivors, with the most controversial decision to rest explosive batting star David Warner.



The retiring Mike Hussey has been completely overlooked as the selectors plan for the 2015 World Cup while captain Michael Clarke is still nursing a sore hamstring and his deputy Shane Watson remains unavailable with a calf strain.



Brad Haddin has been recalled to replace resting wicket-keeper Matt Wade.



Nine’s director of sport Steve Crawley was clearly disappointed with the lack of stars in the team.



“At Channel 9, I’m surrounded by experts,” Crawley told the Herald Sun.



“I’m not an expert. I’m a fan and as a fan I’d not only have David Warner in the side, but make him captain and as a fan I don’t know how you leave Mike Hussey out of anything this summer.”



Hussey, 37, was upset when told on Saturday night that he had been overlooked for the one-day series, but remained ever the diplomat yesterday.



“I would like to have played, but the selectors spoke to me and said they were starting to look towards the 2015 World Cup,” Hussey said.



“It would have been nice to play, but I totally understand where the selectors are going.”



Warner wasn’t particularly chuffed about being rested, but as one of the few players involved in all three forms of the game he has been has been on the go for six months and has a big year ahead.



“You never want to have a game off, but having these two games off means I get the chance to mentally prepare for the one-day series and the tour of India,” Warner said.



Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland played down the lack of big names in the squad.



“It’s only the first two games of the series. In the fullness of time we’ll see who plays in the one-day series,” Sutherland said.



“It’s only been picked for two games so I don’t see what the big issue is about that.



“The selectors made it pretty clear that the three guys who are rested (Clarke, Warner and Wade) will be back fresh in the not too distance future.”



Sutherland denied the Australian one-day side had been devalued.



“In this debate there is a great temptation to delve into the micro detail without taking a big picture view,” he said.



“The greatest context around one-day cricket is the World Cup and we have the Champions Trophy this year.



“The selectors are very, very focused on developing teams that can win those big events.



“I think that’s really exciting because what will play out during this series is fantastic opportunities for young guys who have the potential, in the selectors’ eyes, to be representing Australia in a World Cup in 2015 that is being hosted by us in Australia.



“I can understand people’s disappointment but we need a big picture focus here about Australian cricket.”



Originally published as Nine fury over Aussie ODI selection