Australia clinched the seven-match ODI series by winning the sixth match and taking a 4-2 lead ahead of today's last match in Mumbai.

Chief selector Andrew Hilditch issued a statement yesterday saying it was important to manage the workloads of Watson and Johnson, despite a string of injuries that have depleted the Australian team in India.

"In view of the extremely heavy workload shouldered by Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson since the ICC World Twenty20 in May and with the imminent start of the Australian summer ... the national selection panel has decided Mitchell and Shane will depart India as soon as possible," Hilditch said in a statement.

Weakened bowling attack

Australia will open their home season with the first Test against the West Indies at Brisbane on November 26. Following Test, limited-overs and Twenty20 series against West Indies and Pakistan, the Australians will tour New Zealand.

Johnson has led a weakened Australian bowling attack throughout the year, including Test tours to South Africa and England, the Twenty20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy defence ahead of this series against India.

Watson, who has a history of injury-enforced lay-offs, has been opening the batting for Australia and bowling in all forms of the game since the third Ashes Test in England in July.

Earlier yesterday, Australia captain Ricky Ponting said his line-up would be aiming for nothing less than a big victory in Mumbai.

"We want to finish the tour on a very positive note. As far I can see, 5-2 looks better than 4-3," he told reporters in India. "Yes, the series has been decided, but certainly it is not over as far as we are concerned."