Brett Lee says Australia's use of a super-sized squad for the limited-overs DLF Cup in Malaysia has been at the expense of players finding rhythm before next month's ICC Champions Trophy.
Australia has never won the Champions Trophy - often dubbed a "mini-World Cup" - and Lee appears concerned that the constant change in the current squad might upset any hopes of breaking the unwanted duck.
Lee was happy to bowl quickly and take 3-46 in the loss to West Indies two days ago in his first match since April but said it wasn't easy for the side to find early season form when so few were playing successive matches.
"It's quite difficult when there's 18 players on tour and getting that day in day out process going, as far as not every player's going to play three or four matches, so there's no chance to get into rhythm," Lee said today.
"It has been an experiment over here with the 18 players.
"I think the side's done it quite well, it has been tough to train with 18, but saying that we have got a great squad and if we want to make ourselves the best, it's important we know we cannot become complacent."
Lee could sympathise with fellow paceman Mitchell Johnson, who returned home 24 hours after ripping through the India batting with 4-11.
But he understood that the early departure of Johnson, Phil Jaques and Mark Cosgrove had been hatched when the tournament was expected to be played in Singapore as well as Kuala Lumpur.
"I'm sure Mitchell would've wanted to stay, but we were meant to go to Singapore and then Kuala Lumpur, and it just didn't work out through what was happening," he said.
"They did plan for two different sides to come over, it wasn't to be, and he'll go away on a high.
"Of course, if you've just taken 4-11 it's not nice to go straight back home on a plane."
Looking toward Australia's crucial encounter with India on Friday, Lee said the team gained an edge in outplaying India in its first match before it was abandoned because of rain.
"It's always hard when you're playing a limited match caused by rain delays every five or 10 minutes, but I think we did get a bit of an advantage over them," he said.
"Last Monday was a tough night for us but we have learned a lot from there and we are looking forward to playing India again."
However Lee stressed that the bowlers would need to tighten up after conceding 16 wides and 11 no balls against West Indies.
"That's a non-negotiable type of thing. That's something we really want to try to stop and personally it was great to be out there, like Stuart Clark it was our first real match in five months, and I was hoping to get out there and get the ball going through to Brad," he said.
"I was more than happy with the way the ball came out, but the extras are something we have to look after better."
- DANIEL BRETTIG