Form to dictate who Michael Clarke replaces: George Bailey

Sydney, Jan 25 (IANS) Australia's stand-in One-Day International (ODI) captain George Bailey isn't shying away from the fact he could be the man to make way for returning skipper Michael Clarke at the ICC Cricket World Cup.

A lot has been made about Australia's log-jammed ODI middle order, with Bailey, Clarke and the prolific Steve Smith quite possibly vying for two positions. Former pacer Damien Fleming said if Clarke is fit Bailey would miss out altogether, going from captaining the side to carrying the drinks.

And the Tasmanian is well aware of the scenario if or when Clarke re-joins the World Cup squad, and that there's only one thing he can do - score runs.

"If I'm not scoring runs, and they pick him, then that's fine," Bailey said ahead of Monday's tri-series clash with India. "That's the nature of the game. You're scoring runs or you're not scoring runs. You get picked or you don't. It's a really basic equation.

"If Pup's (Clarke) there, one of the batsmen makes way. Whether that's me or someone else, that's how it is."

"I'll keep saying it, when anyone talks about our chances in the World Cup and the strength of Australia's one-day team at the moment is that squad mentality, whether it's in the eleven or in the 15, everyone will play a role. I'm very, very comfortable with it."

Signs are looking good for the injured Clarke who continues to rehab his surgically repaired hamstring, even bowling his left-arm orthodox spinners in the nets on Saturday.

And while the full-time captain gradually returns to full fitness, his deputy's form may make the decision easier when Clarke does return to the starting XI. Bailey has scored only one half-century in his last 10 ODIs.