New-look England head into ODI series feeling confident, Mohammed Amir seeks fresh start

England captain Eoin Morgan practices his throwing during a training session at Ageas Bowl. Mike Hewitt / Getty Images

Eoin Morgan hopes his England team can take the next step in their development during the one-day series against world champions Australia.

England’s young team head to the Ageas Bowl looking to build on their series victory over World Cup runners-up New Zealand earlier this year. Now they face the team who beat the Black Caps in March’s World Cup final in a five-match series.

“It’s a great opportunity to see our younger guys get tested again against one of the best sides in the world,” Morgan told a news conference.

“We’re at a completely different phase in our development with our team and our squad compared to Australia, so it’s certainly going to be a good test.”

Morgan took over the captaincy before the World Cup, which ended in humiliation as England were dumped out at the group stage.

But a new-look team was picked for the series with New Zealand and they responded with a 3-2 victory.

“I think the performances from the team are getting better with each game and my development as a captain is coming along,” Morgan said.

“I’m learning along the way and my thoughts and ideas are being implemented.”

Australia’s new one-day captain Steven Smith is ready for England’s attacking brand of cricket.

“The way they played against New Zealand was really good, they took the game on,” he said. “Moeen Ali recently said they’re trying to play quite similarly to the way we play.

“We know how they’re going to play. They’re going to come quite hard so we’re going to get opportunities if we get the ball in the right areas. We’ve just got to make sure we take those opportunities.”

Meanwhile Michael Clarke, the man who Smith has succeeded as Australia captain, has pulled out of his Big Bash League deal with the Melbourne Stars and said he will take an indefinite break from the game.

Clarke, 34, one of the outstanding batsmen of his generation, retired from international cricket last month after the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval.

Clarke was expected to honour a two-year contract signed in April with the Stars in Australia’s domestic Twenty20 league, but he said he needed time away from cricket.

“Right now for me, I just think my body and my mind need some time away from the game of cricket ... and just see what that’s like to be without it,” he told Triple M radio.

Clarke, who has long battled back problems, said quitting international duties had prompted him to consider his wider playing future, as his pregnant wife Kyly prepares to give birth to the couple’s first baby in January.

Mohammed Amir

Pakistan bowler Mohammed Amir issued a public apology to supporters and fellow players yesterday as his five-year ban for spot-fixing expired, vowing to make a fresh start.

The 23-year-old paceman is eligible to return to all levels of cricket as of yesterday, along with Salman Butt and Mohammed Asif, who were also banned for their part in the 2010 Lord’s spot-fixing scandal.

The International Cricket Council banned all three for five years for orchestrating deliberate no-balls in return for money during a Test against England. They were also jailed by a British court.

Amir, who has repeatedly voiced contrition for the scandal, repeated his. “I sincerely apologise to everyone I have hurt: my colleagues, my fans, family and my country,” he said in a statement.

“I will never be able to explain how much I regret the mistake I made at the promising start of my career. I disappointed my teammates and seniors who expected much better from me.”

Amir graduated to play for Pakistan age 17 in 2009 and received widespread sympathy at the time of his ban.

Partly because of his youth and naivety, the ICC earlier this year allowed him to return early to domestic cricket. He featured in Grade-II cricket in April, taking 22 wickets in four matches before getting injured.

“I am not sure if I can ever be truly forgiven but I hope to win your trust and love with my upcoming performances. I believe this will be the best way to redeem the past,” he said.

“No matter how sorry I feel I can’t change the past.

“What I can do is start fresh and make a cleaner and brighter history, for myself and for Pakistan.”

Former players were divided on whether the three should be allowed to play for Pakistan again.

While former captains Ramiz Raja and Rashid Latif opposed the tainted trio’s return to the national side, pace legends Wasim Akram, Imran Khan and Shoaib Akhtar advocated a second chance.

Before his ban, Amir had taken 51 wickets in 14 Tests and 25 in 15 one-day internationals. He also had 23 wickets in 18 Twenty20 matches.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @NatSportUAE