Australia want to master all forms of game: Clarke

8220;We8217;ve been the number one ODI team in the world for a while now but we need to continue to raise the bar,8221; Clarke said before the one-day international squad8217;s departure on Thursday.

8220;I think our cricket of late in the shorter form hasn8217;t been as consistent as we would like. I think once we get on the plane it8217;s probably the start of a two-year journey for this Australian team,whether it be the one-day team,the Test team or the Twenty20 team,to have a lot of success and get back to being the number one in all forms of the game.8221;

Australia will play two English county teams and a one-day international against Ireland before facing fourth-ranked England in five ODIs.

Clarke said he had been surprised by England batsman Kevin Pietersen8217;s recent retirement from ODIs.

8220;I8217;m thrilled I don8217;t have to play against him in one-day cricket because he8217;s such a good player and he8217;s had a lot of success and he8217;s a natural in it,8221; Clarke said.

8220;But England have a lot of good players in their team.8221;

Clarke nominated David Hussey to fill the batting role of innings closer and pacer of run-chases in the absence of his elder brother Michael,who withdrew from the tour for family reasons following the premature birth of his fourth child.

Clarke said he was confident that a pay dispute between Cricket Australia and the players would be resolved this month and said the last thing he wanted to do would be to go on strike.