Shane Watson looking forward to New era

Dhaka: Australia's vice-captain Shane Watson on Wednesday said he was looking forward to an "exciting" new era as his beleaguered side tries to move on from an early exit in the cricket World Cup.

"It's very disappointing not to get through further than what we did in the World Cup. Unfortunately, that's been done with and we have got to move on," Watson said ahead of a three-match One-day series against Bangladesh.

"We have got three games in Bangladesh with a new captain (Michael Clarke) that will add a slightly new dynamic to our team. I think it's really an exciting phase in Australian cricket. It's a changing time in Australian cricket."

Australia, seeking a fourth successive World Cup, were knocked out in the quarter-finals when they lost to India in Ahmedabad last month. The disappointment followed the bitter blow of the home Ashes series loss to England. Clarke replaced Ricky Ponting as Australia's captain following their World Cup exit, with Watson named his deputy.

"One of the special things that happened in my cricket career is to be a part of the leadership group that is now really working very hard and trying to turn things around," said Watson, 29.

"There is not going to be any drastic change. Hopefully, I can contribute and Clarke can contribute to help us to play more consistent cricket. I am very excited about my new role in the leadership group."

Ponting retained his place in the side as batsman, a decision all-rounder Watson hailed as "absolutely brilliant". "Having his experience around the group is very important for our development moving forward," said Watson, who has 3,643 runs and 130 wickets in one-day internationals.

Australia will play the One-dayers in Dhaka on April 9, 11 and 13.

"This is my first tour to Bangladesh and it will be great to see different conditions," he said. "No doubt Bangladesh at their best can play unbelievable cricket in these conditions."

Watson also said a qualification process should be put in place for smaller teams to be able to play in the next World Cup in 2015. The International Cricket Council recently announced that the next edition would feature only the 10 full member nations.

Warne denies India coach talk

Shane Warne

New Delhi: Australian spin legend Shane Warne on Wednesday denied media reports that he was interested in coaching World Cup champions India.

"Just got told on bus - apparently I put my hand up to coach India. Wow - first I have heard of it - Sorry to disappoint but never said that!!!" Warne tweeted.

Leg-spinner Warne, 41, is in the country to take part in the Indian Premier League where he leads the Rajasthan Royals franchise in the lucrative Twenty20 competition, starting on Friday.

Local media reports earlier Wednesday said Warne had shown interest in the job.

"It is a very difficult job to be India coach, it is never easy," Warne was quoted as saying in the Mail Today newspaper.

"But with India doing so well, it is a lot easier to take over right now than it has been in the past. I'll enjoy working with the Indian cricket team for sure."

India are without a coach after former South African batsman Gary Kirsten stepped down following the World Cup victory in Mumbai last week.

Warne said Kirsten had set high standards during a successful three-year stint with Mahendra Singh Dhoni's team.

"Kirsten is a quality person and it would be hard to find a replacement for him. Under him, the Indian team has reached the number one spot in Tests and won the World Cup," said Warne. "He is a fantastic coach."

Warne, who quit international cricket in 2007 with 708 wickets in Tests and 293 in one-dayers, excelled in a duel role as captain and coach guiding the Rajasthan Royals to a surprise title in the inaugural IPL edition in 2008.

Dhoni Looking forword to retain IPL title

Dhoni 

Chennai : A new-look Mahendra Singh Dhoni, shorn of hair following the World Cup triumph, looked set for another conquest as captain of the Chennai Super Kings team who he believes has the firepower to retain the Indian Premier League (IPL) title.

The Super Kings, winners in 2010 along with the Champions League, have retained most of the players with the notable exception of the legendary off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan who was bought by Kochi Tuskers at the auction in January this year.

The IPL begins Saturday with Chennai Super Kings hosting Kolkata Knight Riders. The match is slated for an 8 pm start at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. "The new team is quite good. Like I always say, it's not about how good the team looks on paper, but it's what we do on the field that is very important."

"I always say that the fitness of the players is the key. Players do struggle during the course of the IPL. If all the players are available for selection, then it is a very good side. Quite a few of them will be missing due to injuries and international commitments. Once we get together, we will be very good."

"The batting line-up is as good as last year - Vijay, Badri, Raina, myself and Albie. Du Pless has come in, we have the all-rounders and Mr.Cricket (Mike Hussey) will also join us. Overall, it's a very good batting line-up," he said.

Regarding Muralitharan's absence, Dhoni admitted the Sri Lankan would be missed. "We will miss Murali. He had great influence in the dressing room. We knew that once the auction happened, we will miss a few key players. Once people were out of our pocket, we found it difficult to hold them back. We have to start all over again, but the core team is virtually the same," he said.

Team owner Gurunath Meiyappan, said: "We have been very professional in the way we handled our team. This year, we have kept our core team and hope to do well. We have been one of the most consistent sides in the IPL so far. Our focus on the basics has paid us rich dividends and our brand of cricket has won us global admirers."

"Our team has not needed any major changes and our core group remains the same. We have tremendous faith in our boys and under our inspirational captain. We expect them to scale bigger heights."

Coach Stephen Fleming said: "With most of our players being in action during the ICC World Cup, lack of match practice will not be an issue. Playing the best teams in the world and in our home grounds is the best build up any player could hope for. We are quietly confident of our prospects and will play like true champions."

"Our core team remains the same and we look forward to another successful run in this year's tournament too." The Super Kings have on board Gulf Oil as a new sponsor for three years along with Aircel, which is the main backer.