The Tasmanian skipper and Australian ODI vice-captain yesterday admitted his recent output with the bat was not at the standard he would like.

In the 3-0 win over Pakistan, Bailey made just 46 runs at an average of 15.33, which followed his 125 runs in five innings in the tri-series against South Africa and Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe, with just one score more than 50 in that time.

They are numbers well below his career average of 46.61 from 47 matches.

With Michael Clarke, Shane Watson and Mitch Marsh to return to Australia’s 50-over middle order, and Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell’s strong recent form, spots are at a premium.

Stepping away from his role as the national Twenty20 skipper will help as the 32-year-old builds towards next year’s World Cup and possible Test recall for the Ashes tour next winter.

‘‘I just feel I need some more time out there in the middle,’’ the former South Launceston batsman said.

‘‘I’m not sure if it is form with me or lack of time batting, but I just feel it will be one innings that will kick me back into gear, but I know I can’t argue with the numbers that are there.’’

Bailey could now play as many as four of Tasmania’s pre-Christmas Sheffield Shield matches, on top of the remainder of the domestic one-day cup.

‘‘One of the motivations [for stepping away from the T20I captaincy] was to stop the jumping around between the formats and just try to focus on a couple [first class and 50 over].

‘‘I’m hoping that will have a real positive impact for me.

‘‘While the Ashes next year are a goal, the real goal for me now is just to get back to playing good consistent cricket, and that is not something I have done for a period of time.

‘‘I now have to get to the crux of why that is, and time in the middle is the best way to figure out how I resolve that.

‘‘It is a huge honour to play for Australia, but that is the end result of making sure you do everything right with your batting.’’

Bailey gets his first opportunity to get that time in the middle tomorrow when the Tigers face Queensland at North Sydney Oval.

He and left-arm orthodox spinner Xavier Doherty will return to the Tasmanian squad for the final three matches of the domestic one day cup, with Timm van der Gugten and Michael Hill omitted.

Tasmania squad: George Bailey (c), Xavier Doherty (vc), Ben Dunk, Ed Cowan, Andrew Fekete, Evan Gulbis, Hamish Kingston, Dominic Michael, Tim Paine, Sam Rainbird, Clive Rose, Jordan Silk, Jon Wells.