AFP/London
England and Australia play the first of a five-match one-day international (ODI) series at Lord’s here today but the tourists are already looking to their return trip for next year’s Ashes. Australia all-rounder Shane Watson has played in two Ashes Test series defeats and is desperate to emerge victorious. “After being involved in two Ashes losses now, it is a burning desire inside me to be a part of a successful Ashes series,” Watson said. “Any time you play against England you want success. It is the ultimate rivalry and the ultimate challenge for an Australian cricketer, to play against England and win. “I haven’t been a part of that in Test matches and now is a time to be able to put some things in place so we can have some success when we come back here during the Ashes.” Australia are the world’s top-ranked ODI side but England come into this match on the back of six straight home series wins in the 50-over game and a run of six wins in as many completed matches. England’s recent success has been built on their top-order batsman, with Ian Bell filling the gap as opener created by Kevin Pietersen’s limited overs retirement by scoring a hundred against the West Indies at Southampton earlier this month. The hosts are likely to play five specialist bowlers, with Tim Bresnan at number seven and medium-pacer Watson believes that if Australia can make early inroads there is an opportunity to put England’s middle-order under pressure. “For England to be able to go in with four frontline quick bowlers is a very good thing for them against our batting line-up—but if we are able to make inroads into their batting early they may be one short,” Watson said. “We see it is very important for us to have success here is to try and make early inroads. That has been one of England’s strengths over the last period of time, to be able to score heavily. “We know if we are able to make inroads it may expose a part of the England team that hasn’t been exposed.” In their 179-run thrashing of an Essex side featuring England one-day captain Alastair Cook on Tuesday, Australia opened with Watson and David Warner, leaving wicket-keeper Matthew Wade at No 7. “I’ll never sell Tim Bresnan short, I think he’s an excellent cricketer, he’s a very highly skilled bowler and he got 70-odd against us in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy a few years ago as well, so I know he can bat,” said Watson.