Disappointed Clarke says ODI thrashing by England not to impact Ashes preparations

Durham (UK), July 8 (ANI): Australia's cricket captain Michael Clarke insists his side's poor one day form against England will have no impact on the Ashes series next year.

England cruised to an eight-wicket victory in the fourth one-day match at Durham on Saturday to take an unassailable 3-0 lead with one game to play at Manchester on Tuesday.

Clarke expressed his disappointment afterwards that his side failed to come up with ways of getting the better of England in any of the three matches so far.

Looking at the bigger picture Clarke played down losing this series, denying there'd be any psychological scars carried into the five-match Test series in England which is still almost a year away.

"I'd say definitely not," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Clarke, as telling a news conference after the match.

He added: "We've got a lot of guys involved in our Test squad who aren't involved in the one-dayers. Yes, the result hasn't gone our way on this tour so far. But it's been a great opportunity for the players who haven't (previously) played much cricket in England to get here and see the conditions, especially for our young bowlers. And it's been good for our batters who haven't had the chance to play against a really good English attack to see how good they are.

We know we've got some work to do, in one-day cricket but also Test cricket before the next Ashes". (ANI)