Australia keen to send a message

Michael Clarke has revealed Australia's intention to send a message to world cricket with a 5-0 series sweep of the West Indies.

Already assured of a series victory after three convincing wins, Australia are determined to show the loss of several key players had done nothing to diminish their position as one-day world leaders by closing out their Caribbean tour with a pair of victories in St Kitts.

“With the team we have now, if we can win 5-0 it certainly shows we've stood tall,” said Clarke, who could captain Australia for the first time in an one-day international in game four on Friday (2330 EST) should Ricky Ponting's wrist injury not improve.

“Obviously we've lost a lot of players from both forms of the games, but we won the Test series here, and hopefully if we win this 5-0 it will be a great start to what is a new era.”

Australia are playing their first one-day series since the retirements of Adam Gilchrist and Brad Hogg, with imposing opener Matthew Hayden also absent through injury.

After a competitive Test series, the Windies have been beat down by both Australia and injuries during the one-dayers.

Australia, though, are promising no respite at Warner Park on Friday and Sunday with memories of their 2003 Caribbean tour - where Ponting's side lost their last three ODIs after claiming an unbeatable 4-0 lead - still burning.

“That's actually a priority of ours to make sure that doesn't happen (again),” Clarke said.

“At the start of the series we said we wanted to win 5-0. We've got two games to go and I think we're playing good enough cricket to do that. I'm certain that none of the boys want to go home winning 4-1 or 3-2.”

Ponting was largely a bystander at training after hurting his wrist batting in Grenada on Sunday.

While not considered a serious injury, the skipper remains in doubt for Friday's game, with a decision on his availability not expected until after the team's final training run Friday (local time) at the earliest.

If Ponting was ruled out, Clarke - who captained Australia twice in Twenty20 internationals last summer - would take over the reins for the first time in a ODI with the uncapped David Hussey likely to come into the side.
Hussey, regardless, would appear certain to make his one-day debut this weekend, with both he and pace bowler Stuart Clark yet to feature this series.

The Windies, meanwhile, will make at least one change to their XI, with Nikita Miller replacing the axed Sulieman Benn as the spinner in the squad.

Captain Chris Gayle said his side was desperate to avoid a 5-0 whitewash - not just for pride, but with the Champions Trophy fast approaching in September.

“They got the better of us in the final (of the Champions Trophy) the last time around, so that's another battle we're looking forward to,” Gayle said.

“They are the best team, and you can look to see where your cricket is ... so it would be really disappointing to lose 5-0 and hopefully it doesn't happen.”