Ricky Ponting has delivered an ominous warning that Australia can break the world record score in one-day internationals once more.

Australia upped the ante to 434 against South Africa last year, only to lose an amazing contest in Johannesburg.

Ponting's men certainly appear in the kind of destructive form necessary, having spanked a new Twenty20 international high of 221 off England on Tuesday night, when 14 sixes were scattered into the stands.

There has been a definite attitude shift from players since the introduction of 20-over cricket in England four years ago and Ponting believes its effects can be carried into the Commonwealth Bank Series, if not the World Cup in the Caribbean.

''Hopefully we can challenge it and hopefully we will win the game next time,'' Ponting said, of South Africa's 438 for nine.

''Twenty20 cricket might have had a bit of an impact; if you can score 200 off 20 overs there is no reason you can't make 400 off 50; which is the feeling we have in our dressing room anyway; you just have to play in that way for a bit longer.

''I think it will happen, you just need conditions on the day to be so good.

''That wicket was perfect and in Joburg where the ball travels so far it all adds up to being a place where you make big scores.

''West Indian wickets might not be suited to those kind of big scores but around Australia, maybe Adelaide or Perth, where you have good true wickets, there could be some big scores as well".

Damien Martyn's retirement has led to Australia including Cameron White, another ferocious striker of the ball, alongside other power men Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds.

''I certainly think that that is the way that one-day cricket is going, big strong batsmen who can hit the ball out of the park,'' Ponting said.

Commonwealth Bank are to donate Australian dollars 1,000 to cancer charities each time a batsmen clears the ropes in the triangular tournament, also featuring England and New Zealand and starting tomorrow morning in Melbourne with England facing the host nation.

Such is the current trend for big hitting and the reduction in boundary lengths that they are confident of last year's total of 80 being surpassed.

''Definitely the game seems to be moving up another level, the scores seem to be higher, the bar has been raised, batsmen have become more skilled,'' said Michael Hussey, the world's leading one-day batsman.

''From an Australian point of view we have got some unbelievably exciting players who keep getting better and better and who want to improve all the time.

''Teams are being challenged to score higher and higher scores, so I guess we are taking more positive risks and if you can get away it gives you confidence to keep going.''