26 Aug 2009

Australian cricketers arrive in Edinburgh

8:17 am on 26 August 2009

The Australian cricketers have arrived in Edinburgh for Friday's one-day tour match against Scotland.

The Test specialists have flown home, and the squad for the remainder of the tour have also left the scene of Australia's demoralising 2-1 Ashes series loss to England.

While the mood of a defeated team hung in the air during the four-and-a-half-hour train journey north, coach Tim Nielsen says the fresh blood in the squad will help switch the focus to the task ahead.

Australia will be led by Michael Clarke in Edinburgh with captain Ricky Ponting flying home for a short rest before rejoining the one-day squad later.

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin is also homeward bound to see specialists about the fractured finger he carried in the last two Ashes Tests, a decision is yet to be made on whether he will take part in the one day series against England.

Australia play two 20/20 matches against England in Manchester on August the 30th and September the 1st before the two countries meet in the first of seven one-daye fixtures at The Oval on September the 4th.