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Dublin: James Hopes reckons the scare Ireland gave Australia will stand the world champions in good stead when they face England in a one-day international series starting next week.
Australia, in their tour opener, were on the ropes as non-Test nation Ireland reached 80 without loss, chasing 232 for victory, after just 11 overs in a one-day international at Clontarf here on Thursday.
But medium-pacer Hopes finished the Irish resistance with a career-best 5-14 as the hosts were bowled out for 192.
Australia won by 39 runs with eight overs to spare after they'd made 231 for nine in an innings where wicketkeeper Tim Paine, only on tour because of an injury to Brad Haddin, alone made more than fifty with a knock of 81.
"It was good to play the Irish because they are a pretty good team," said man-of-the-match Hopes.
We have another practice match on Saturday at Lord's against a Middlesex side due to be captained by Australia stumper Adam Gilchrist and we know a five-match series against England is going to be different to the seven-match series we played last year when we beat them 6-1 in England.
However, Ashes holders England will be buoyed by last month's World Twenty20 final win over Australia in Barbados and he added: "They have a bit of a different team, they are coming off a Twenty20 win and they are playing in their own backyard.
