Khawaja can dominate like Clarke: Gayle

Updated December 31, 2012 13:36:11

West Indian powerhouse Chris Gayle believes Sydney Thunder team-mate Usman Khawaja can emulate Michael Clarke's rise to the top of world cricket if he is given another chance in the Test team.

With the imminent retirement of Michael Hussey leaving a sizable gap in Australia's middle order, Khawaja has been thrust back into the spotlight as a proposed replacement.

The 26-year-old left-hander is in fine touch, scoring the third most runs (438) in the Sheffield Shield this summer while also peeling off a crisp, unbeaten 66 in the Thunder's four-wicket loss to the Sydney Sixers in their Big Bash League Twenty20 game on Sunday night.

Khawaja played just six Tests before being unceremoniously dumped for failing to ignite the top order after averaging 29.22, with a top score of 65 in a brief stint peppered with scores in the 20s.

But Thunder teammate Gayle sees a bright future for Khawaja, likening his anticipated Test return to that of captain Clarke, who was dropped in late 2005 only to return and develop into the world's number one batsman.

"He definitely has a bright Test career ahead of him," Gayle said.

"If given the chance, I can't see any reason why he can't score runs and be dominant like a Michael Clarke in the future.

"Once he gets his chance, hopefully he'll make use of it."

Khawaja is on standby for Clarke (hamstring) for the third Test against Sri Lanka at the SCG starting on Thursday, which will be Hussey's last.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted December 31, 2012 13:36:11

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Clarke backs Watson over ton drought

By James Maasdorp

Updated December 28, 2012 00:42:13

Australia captain Michael Clarke insists Shane Watson's long wait for a third Test century will end soon, after the all-rounder missed another chance to notch a big score.

Clarke (106) and Watson (83) shared in a superb 194-run partnership to put the hosts in a strong position on day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the MCG.

Australia finished the day at 8 for 440, with Mitchell Johnson plundering runs at the death with a stylish 73.

As it happened: Second Test, Day Two

Clarke surpassed Ricky Ponting's record of most runs by an Australian in a calendar year on his way to yet another century, but following his dismissal, Watson failed to kick on and was dismissed soon after.

After Clarke was caught at second slip, Watson succumbed to nerves to hit a careless pull shot to Thilan Samaraweera in the deep.

But Clarke says Watson was simply unlucky, and his long-awaited third Test ton is just around the corner.

"Watto doesn't need to change anything, he's batted really well today," Clarke told Grandstand.

"He was unlucky today, the pull shot's one of his strengths and unfortunately he's hit it straight down the guy's throat.

"Nine times out of 10, Watto hits that for four or six.

"Full credit to him, I thought he played really well and if he keeps batting like that, hundreds will come."

The Test captain said it was an honour to surpass Ponting's record of 1,544 runs in a calendar year.

"It's very special, I didn't know it at the time, I didn't know how many runs I needed," he said.

"To me Ricky Ponting's one of the all-time great players Australia's ever had, so to beat Ricky at anything is a fantastic achievement. I'm very proud."

Clarke spoke of his relief at scoring his first ton at the MCG and praised his side's overall batting performance, singling out Johnson for his late cameo.

"It's always nice to make runs and always nicer to make a century for Australia and put us in a pretty good position," he said.

"I thought the boys played really well today. Watson was outstanding, Mitchell Johnson was really good at the back end of the day.

"It's nice to get that monkey off my back, that's for sure. There was a little bit in the paper in the few days leading up to this Test making it clear that I hadn't scored a hundred [at the MCG].

"It's certainly something that's been on my mind for a while now considering it's a beautiful ground and I love playing in Melbourne. It's nice to finally have made a hundred here."

Following Clarke and Watson's quick dismissals, Matthew Wade (1) was out almost immediately as the Aussies endured a mini-collapse, before Michael Hussey (34) and Johnson steadied the ship with a 61-run partnership.

Hussey was dismissed spectacularly as he top-edged a Tillakaratne Dilshan delivery, only to see Rangana Herath pouch a diving one-handed screamer at deep midwicket.

The catches for the cameras continued as Peter Siddle (13) edged one to Jayawardene in the slips late in the day, with the Sri Lankan captain diving well to his left.

Sri Lanka's batting coach Marvan Atapattu praised the two catches, saying they will hopefully give his players some confidence ahead of their second innings.

"It was two fantastic catches. Hopefully the catches Mahela has taken will give him confidence when he comes out to bat the next time around," Atapattu told Grandstand.

"Herath has been really good in the outfield. You see the same person doing the same old thing again when he was here in January, his performance in the field has been very good."

He says the injury news remains bad for the tourists, with Prasanna Jayawardene nursing a bruised thumb and paceman Chanaka Welegedara straining a hamstring.

"Welegedera doesn't seem to be looking too good at the moment," he said.

"We have Prasanna Jayawardene ... having a bruised thumb, the X-ray shows a hairline fracture, so he probably won't take any further part in terms of wicketkeeping.

"But hopefully in terms of batting he'll contribute.

"We've got batsmen who have made big scores, batted for such a long time. I expect them to put up a good show."

Tags: cricket, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia, sri-lanka

First posted December 27, 2012 19:05:26

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Clarke makes batting history in 2012

Updated December 27, 2012 14:30:27

Michael Clarke surpassed Ricky Ponting as the most prolific Australian batsman in one calendar year in Australia's first innings against Sri Lanka in the Boxing Day Test on Thursday.

Ponting set the mark of 1,544 in 28 innings in 2005, racking up six centuries and six half-tons with a high score of 207.

Clarke, his successor for the captaincy, needed just 18 knocks to break the record, with five hundreds and three fifties contributing to his haul.

The magic number on Thursday was 56, before Clarke scored another 50 on top of it before departing for 106 in the middle session.

His best innings of 2012 was his unbeaten 329 against India at the SCG in the New Year's Test in January, but he compiled three further double centuries in 2012.

He made 210 against India at Adelaide Oval before belting South Africa for 259 not out in Brisbane in November and a further 230 in the following match in Adelaide.

The world record is held by Pakistani Mohammad Yousuf, who amassed 1,788 runs in 11 Tests in 2006.

See Clarke's list of innings below.

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First posted December 27, 2012 12:26:46

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Clarke 50-50 for Boxing Day

Updated December 24, 2012 09:24:19

Australia will not take any risks with Michael Clarke's hamstring, with chairman of selectors John Inverarity rating the skipper only a 50-50 chance of being passed fit for the Boxing Day Test.

Clarke was forced to retire hurt in his second innings of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Hobart last week.

Inverarity and vice-captain Shane Watson both expect the world's number one-ranked batsman to do everything possible to prove his fitness over the next couple of days.

But that might not be enough.

"He's a very precious asset and I would go low risk," Inverarity said after watching Sunday's MCG training session, where Clarke was limited to light duties.

"He's always upbeat, he desperately wants to play.

"But we certainly don't want to push him especially hard in a Test and for him to break down."

If Clarke were to miss the second Test his spot in the batting line-up would go to Usman Khawaja with Watson assuming the captaincy.

The all-rounder has never led Australia in a Test, although he did the job with some distinction in the limited-overs series in the West Indies earlier in the year.

"It's just about as big as it gets for an Australian cricketer," Watson said of the prospect of leading Australia in a Boxing Day Test.

"It's an amazing opportunity to think that something like that has come along in your life.

"But I'm trying not to get too far in front of myself at the moment.

"I know Michael will be doing everything he can to get right for this Test match."

Watson said he would trust his gut instinct if called on to captain an Australian side now also missing long-time skipper Ricky Ponting.

"Until you actually captain a side you don't really realise the intuition you've developed over those 10 or 11 years of playing first-class cricket and being around some of the best players who have ever played cricket for Australia," he said.

"Intuition really does come to the fore."

The other pressing selection issue for Australia concerns the make-up of the pace attack - specifically whether Mitchell Starc will be rested despite claiming a match-winning, five-wicket haul in the first Test in Hobart.

Inverarity said the 22-year-old Starc would definitely miss one of the back-to-back Tests in Melbourne and Sydney as part of the rotational policy designed to avoid further injuries to Australia's depleted fast bowling stocks.

"It's about bowling loads," Inverarity said.

"The science behind it is that they've got to build up their bowling loads so the oscillations are not very significant.

"If they do become reasonably significant, as they have done for Mitchell, then you enter a danger period, a high-risk period."

If Starc is rotated out of the Boxing Day Test, Tasmanian paceman Jackson Bird will be handed a first Test cap and Mitchell Johnson will return after being unluckily left out of the Hobart clash.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia, sri-lanka

First posted December 23, 2012 18:04:18

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Clarke bats in nets at MCG

Updated December 24, 2012 13:45:27

Australia captain Michael Clarke has continued his battle to prove his fitness for the Boxing Day Test against Sri Lanka by batting in the nets for 15 minutes at the MCG on Monday.

The skipper faced throw-downs from assistant coach Stuart Law under the watchful eye of coach and selector Mickey Arthur.

Clarke, who suffered a hamstring injury during last week's first Test in Hobart, says he is confident of being able to take his place in the side.

"I love playing at the MCG in the biggest Test of the year but I have never done it justice," Clarke said in a column for the Sydney Daily Telegraph.

"I'm still searching for my first hundred there and will be doing everything in my power to make sure it comes this week.

"That has included working overtime with our team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris to make sure my hamstring is right for Boxing Day.

"I only suffered a minor twinge while batting in Hobart and remain confident that I will be fine to play."

Vice-captain Shane Watson, who has led the side in eight games at one-day international level, is set to take over as Test skipper if Clarke is ruled out.

Former Test number three Usman Khawja, dropped from the team a year ago, is in the 13-man squad and is on standby for Clarke.

The 31-year-old Clarke is the leading Test runscorer for 2012 and is only 55 runs shy of Ricky Ponting's national calendar-year record of 1544 runs in 2005.

However the fact that the Melbourne (December 26-30) and Sydney (January 3-7) Tests are virtually back-to-back will be a factor in Cricket Australia's decision on Clarke's fitness for the Melbourne clash.

Australia leads the three-match series 1-0.

Chairman of selectors John Inverarity said on Sunday he would prefer to take a conservative approach to Clarke's fitness.

"He is 50-50," Inverarity said.

"He is working hard on his recovery."

AAP/Reuters

Tags: cricket, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia, sri-lanka

First posted December 24, 2012 10:46:44

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Clarke 'pretty positive' about Boxing Day Test

Updated December 26, 2012 01:52:45

Australia captain and selector Michael Clarke put himself through a searching fitness test but is yet to decide if he will lead the side in the Boxing Day clash with Sri Lanka.

Clarke suffered a hamstring injury during last week's first Test in Hobart but has made steady improvement in recent days, including batting and fielding sessions at the MCG on Tuesday.

"It's improving every day," Clarke told a media conference.

"I did a fair bit of running today in the indoor nets. A decision can't be made today.

"I really need to wait and see how I pull up tomorrow morning.

"I'm still pretty positive I'll be right for tomorrow.

"I haven't run at 100 per cent but I've certainly built up over the last three days."

Young batsman Usman Khawaja, who has been out of the side for a year, is on standby for Clarke.

Tasmania paceman Jackson Bird will make his debut in place of injured quick Ben Hilfenhaus while Mitchell Starc has been rested and his fellow left-armer Mitchell Johnson returns to the line-up.

Starc was crushed when told he would sit out the second Test after claiming 5-63 in Sri Lanka's second innings in the first Test in Hobart.

But Clarke has defended the decision to rest Starc, saying it is a reality of modern sport that could lengthen his playing career.

"We're making decisions on Mitchell playing a big part in the Australian team over the next 12 months," he said.

"We tour India, we have one-day cricket, we have Twenty20 cricket, we have Ashes home and away, Champions Trophy.

"It's not a decision made on just this one Test match."

Starc is likely to return for the Sydney Test on January 3.

Australia leads the three-match series 1-0.

Sri Lanka has not won a single test on Australian soil, and captain Mahela Jayawardene says winning a Test in the current series would mean a lot.

"If we do that, it won't be for me personally but for the entire team and for the entire country it would be something good, and it would be for the next generation to look at," he said.

Sri Lanka will make a late call on playing pacer Nuwan Kulasekara, who was hit in the rib while batting in the Hobart Test which the visitors lost by 137 runs.

"We want to give him another chance to bowl today and see whether he's 100 per cent and we'll make a call on that probably tomorrow morning," Jayawardene said.

"The one to come would be Dhammika Prasad if he's not 100 per cent.

"We're quite confident with the bowlers that we have."

But Jayawardene says the team's batting line-up is the key to their hopes of victory.

"We've got the experience. We've got the talent," he said.

"We just need to go out and produce the goods."

Likely Australia team: Michael Clarke (capt), Ed Cowan, David Warner, Phil Hughes, Shane Watson, Mike Hussey, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird. (Note: Usman Khawaja is on standby for Clarke.)

AAP

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First posted December 25, 2012 11:57:05

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Clarke to lead Aussies into Boxing Day Test

Updated December 26, 2012 10:24:49

Cricket Australia has confirmed Michael Clarke will play in the Boxing Day Test Match against Sri Lanka at the MCG.

Clarke has been nursing a hamstring tweak sustained while batting in the first Test in Hobart, but has been declared fit to play.

Meanwhile, Jackson Bird has received his baggy green cap from Bill Lawry as he prepares for his Test debut in Melbourne.

Bird was chosen ahead of the fit left-armer Mitchell Starc, who was rested as per Cricket Australia's controversial bowling rotation system.

After Australia lost the toss and was sent into bowl on day one, Clarke told Grandstand he was fit and thrilled to be playing.

"I'm here, so I'm fine. I'm 100 per cent fine and I'm looking forward to this Test match," he said.

"I've trained well over the last couple of days and my running's improved, and I'm ready and 100 per cent able to perform."

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First posted December 26, 2012 09:40:48

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Clarke in race to be fit for Boxing Day

Updated December 19, 2012 09:12:42

Australian captain Michael Clarke begins an intensive campaign to get himself fit for the Boxing Day Test after picking up a hamstring strain in the first Test victory over Sri Lanka.

Clarke suffered the twinge while batting in Australia's second innings but took his place at slip as the home side dismissed the Sri Lankans for 255 to win by 137.

As it happened: First Test, Day Five

The prolific Clarke, back on top of the ICC's Test batsman rankings, is in a race against time to prove his fitness and have the chance to better Ricky Ponting's record of 1544 Test runs in a calendar year.

The Australian skipper needs another 55 runs to equal Ponting's record, set in 2005.

"I know I'm in great hands with (team physio) Alex (Kountouris) and I know how great a physio he is," Clarke said.

"And I know how good my physio back in Sydney is that I'll be using over the next couple of days.

"Obviously my preparation will be a little bit different to the lead-up to this Test match but I've done a fair bit of batting throughout the summer so I'm confident."

Clarke said his scans were "positive" and the injury is minor but former Test number three Usman Khawaja has been placed on standby.

Missing from Australia's 12-man squad will be swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus, who has a side strain he suffered at Bellerive.

Tasmanian medium-pacer Jackson Bird, the Sheffield Shield's leading wicket-taker, has been called into the squad.

Despite only playing 17 first-class matches in Shield cricket, Bird has already amassed 87 wickets for Tasmania to thrust himself into the national spotlight.

Read the story: Australia names Bird in Boxing Day squad

Clarke said Australia was starting to heed the lessons from its 1-0 series loss to South Africa.

"There's no doubt we've learned a lot from the South Africa series," he said.

"Having the extra bowler today compared to Adelaide played a big part.

"Watto (Shane Watson) bowled 27 overs - I would have loved those overs in Adelaide."

Australia leads the three-Test series against Sri Lanka 1-0 with matches in Melbourne and Sydney to come.

Clarke has extra incentive to make the Boxing Day Test after reclaiming the number one Test batsman spot in the ICC Player Rankings.

The Australian captain entered the Hobart Test trailing Shivnarine Chanderpaul by just one point, but now leads the West Indian by nine points.

Clarke's knocks of 74 and 57 in the Hobart Test against Sri Lanka, won by Australia by 137 runs, played a part in helping him reach the top, the ICC said in a statement.

Other big gainers were Australia's Mike Hussey, England's Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell, Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan and India's Virat Kohli.

Hussey returned to the top 10 in ninth position after rising four places following his unbeaten knocks of 115 and 31 in Hobart.

Batsmen slipping down the ladder are Kevin Pietersen in 11th (down by two), Thilan Samaraweera in 17th (down by two), Mahela Jayawardena in 21st (down by four), Sachin Tendulkar in 22nd (down by three), Virender Sehwag in 25th (down by two), Cheteshwar Pujara in 26th (down by one), Shane Watson in 39th (down by three) and Prasanna Jayawardena in 52nd (down by one).

The bowlers' table was still headed by South Africa's Dale Steyn while Sri Lanka's spinner Rangana Herath dropped two places to fourth whereas Australia fast bowler Peter Siddle, who was the player of the match at Hobart for his spells of five for 54 and four for 50, was at fifth place with a best-ever 806 ratings points.

Also moving up are England's paceman James Anderson in sixth (up by one), India's spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in 20th (up by two), Nathan Lyon in 28th (up by two), Ishant Sharma in 32nd (up by one) and Chanaka Welegedara in 34th (up by five).

The bowlers to move downwards within the top 10 include Graeme Swann in seventh (down by one), Pragyan Ojha in ninth (down by four) and Ben Hilfenhaus in 10th (down by one).

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, hobart-7000, tas, sri-lanka, australia

First posted December 19, 2012 09:05:17

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Clarke retires hurt with hamstring injury

Updated December 17, 2012 15:52:03

The only thing that could stop Michael Clarke's innings was injury, not Sri Lanka's bowlers, after the in-form Australian skipper retired hurt with a hamstring injury at Bellerive Oval on Monday.

Clarke contributed a quickfire 57 not out off 46 deliveries on day four of the first Test, with his side extending its lead over the tourists, before calling Australian physio Alex Kountouris to the middle.

Clarke could be seen stretching and then rubbing his right hamstring before leaving the field.

Cricket Australia posted on Twitter soon after that the team's medical staff were assessing a right hamstring injury.

It is the latest in a string of injuries for the Australian Test side, which lost the bowling services of Ben Hilfenhaus (side strain) in the first innings in Hobart.

Clarke took his place in the field for Sri Lanka's second innings.

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First posted December 17, 2012 15:04:00

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Morkel predicts barrage for Clarke

Updated November 19, 2012 17:06:03

South African paceman Morne Morkel has forecast a short ball barrage for Australian captain Michael Clarke in a bid to halt his run-scoring spree.

Morkel says the Proteas need to be wiser in their approach to Clarke in the second Test in Adelaide starting Thursday.

Clarke's rich form continued in the drawn series opener in Brisbane with a superb unbeaten 259 in Australia's sole innings.

But Morkel says astute use of the short ball, and denying Clarke scoring singles, will feature in South Africa's planning for Australia's in-form leader.

"Any batsmen struggles a bit at first with the short ball so we will probably come up with game plans and start working on those sort of things," Morkel told reporters on Monday.

"Definitely that is a plan to always use a short ball - you have got two short balls an over so why not use it.

"We just need to use it in a clever way and see how we go from there."

Clarke's Brisbane epic was his third Test score higher than 200 this year, a feat only previously accomplished in Test cricket by Sir Donald Bradman in 1930 and Ricky Ponting in 2003.

"He played very, very well," Morkel said.

"If we can create more pressure and try and stop him from rotating strike ... that will be key."

Morkel said the South Africans were also urgently addressing their costly spate of no balls in the Brisbane Test, where Proteas bowlers over-stepped 23 times.

Morkel was denied Ed Cowan's wicket because of a no ball while Australian quicks Peter Siddle and James Pattinson also lost wickets due to no balls.

"It's a controllable," Morkel said.

"It is something I personally have been working hard on ... the stats show we have been bowling quite a lot (of no balls) over the past few Test matches and Test series so it's definitely a thing that we are targeting at the moment."

The South Africans managed just five Australian wickets at the Gabba and Morkel said their highly-rated pace bowling brigade needed to improve.

"We know what to do to lift our game," he said.

"They (Australia's batsmen) are all quality players, the way they play in these conditions here, the way they leave the ball, does make it tough.

"We have played against quality opposition and this is just another challenge for us.

"There is a lot of talk about our bowling attack being number one and hopefully we can produce that."

AAP

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First posted November 19, 2012 17:04:36

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Warner hails inspirational Clarke

By Paul Newman

Updated November 23, 2012 09:40:37

Australian century-maker David Warner says captain Michael Clarke's incredible form with the bat is providing an inspiration for all members of the team.

Warner was the first of three Australian batsmen to reach triple figures on day one of the Adelaide Test against South Africa, when the hosts posted their second highest single-day Test total in history.

After a shaky start that saw Australia stumble to 3 for 55, Clarke's men finished the day at 5 for 482.

Look back on how the action unfolded.

Clarke remains unbeaten on 224, making him the first batsmen to post a score in excess of 200 four times in a calendar year.

It follows his 259 not out in the first Test at the Gabba.

Warner made 119 off just 112 balls, while Michael Hussey scored a second successive Test century before being bowled on the last ball of the day for 103.

Warner says Clarke continues to lead Australia by example and is flourishing as a great skipper.

"He's set a great precedent for anyone following in his footsteps as a captain and a leader," Warner told Grandstand.

"It was a phenomenal effort by him."

Clarke's latest double-ton came off 243 balls, including 39 fours and one six.

It continues an amazing year for the Australian captain which began with 329 not out against India at the SCG in January.

He went on to score 210 against India in Adelaide and is yet to be dismissed by the Proteas in this series.

Clarke says he is more excited by what the team has achieved rather than his own incredible batting efforts.

"It's nice to be making runs, don't get me wrong, but you don't really think about that to be honest," he told Grandstand.

"I see 482 on the board and I want to make some more runs tomorrow and do whatever we can to win this Test.

"It is only day one of the Test with four big days to go. We have to turn up tomorrow morning and be ready to win the Test."

Clarke says when he is scoring runs he just wants to cash in to make the most of his form.

"I'm as fit as I've ever been, that's for sure," he said.

"Physically and mentally I have done the work and I guess that is why I manage to make big scores or bat for long periods of time."

Deflecting praise from his own effort, Clarke applauded the courage of Warner and the consistency of Hussey.

Warner says he headed into this Test confident of doing well despite suggestions he was under pressure to hold his spot following a disappointing performance in Brisbane.

"There was a little bit of pressure on myself, a lot of reports in the papers trying to say there was a lot of pressure on me, but I never felt it," Warner said.

"The preparation I had before the Test was fantastic, I hit a lot of balls in the nets."

Warner's mum and dad were in the stands to watch him notch his third Test century, but the opener says there was someone else also on his mind.

"My pop is always watching over me and I always know he is there. I had faith in him to get me there today," he said.

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First posted November 22, 2012 19:48:43

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Clarke dreams of farewell hundred for Punter

Updated November 30, 2012 10:33:19

Michael Clarke says he would love nothing more than for Ricky Ponting to score a big hundred in the Perth Test to help Australia return to the summit of world cricket, where the former captain helped it stay for so long.

Clarke got emotional when discussing Ponting's immense contribution to the Australian cricket team at the media call, but was able to put it into words when speaking to Grandstand shortly afterwards.

"He's an amazing player. He was an amazing captain, is a great friend and it's going to be tough to go into a Test match without him being there," Clarke told Grandstand.

"What a player he's been. He's been a great ambassador for the sport - not just for Australia but around the world.

"I'd love nothing more than to win this Test match, get back to being number one and for Ricky to get a big hundred. What a way for him to go out."

Australia sat atop the Test rankings from their inception in 2003 - after unofficially holding the number one crown since beating the West Indies in 1995 - until losing the Ashes series to England in 2009.

The team can return to the top for the first time since with a series-sealing victory against South Africa in Perth.

Ponting and Clarke have played together in all but five of the current skipper's 85 Tests.

Ironically, Ponting missed Clarke's first three Tests due to a broken thumb, when Adam Gilchrist led Australia to its first victory in India for 35 years.

After that, Ponting has only missed the fifth Test against England in 2011 due to a broken finger and the second Test against Sri Lanka later that year due to the birth of his second child, Matisse.

The pair have put on 2322 runs in partnership together, at an average of 68.29, including five centuries.

They currently stand as the 11th highest scoring partnership for Australia and will move into the top ten above David Boon and Allan Border if they put on 76 together at the WACA.

Perhaps most memorably the pair spent the best part of a day together in the middle last summer when Ponting returned to form with 134 and Clarke recorded his best ever score of 329 not out.

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First posted November 29, 2012 16:57:21

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Watson left out as Clarke names unchanged team

Updated November 21, 2012 18:41:43

Shane Watson has failed in his bid to play in the second Test against South Africa in Adelaide as Australia named an unchanged Test line-up.

Watson had been put through a number of fitness tests throughout the week in the lead-up to the crucial match starting tomorrow, but ultimately came up short in his recovery from a calf strain.

"He improved a lot over the last few days ... but is probably a few days short of being 100 per cent," captain Michael Clarke told a news gathering.

"We're doing everything in our power to give him the opportunity to be right for the third Test in Perth.

"He sees himself as an all-rounder, he wants to be an all-rounder, he knows the impact he has on this game with both bat and ball. He's a huge part of our squad when he's doing both.

"Our plans are to try get him to 100 per cent as quickly as we can, knowing that we've got eight days now until the Test in Perth."

Watson's omission means there is no change to the batting line-up, with under-pressure Dave Warner and Brisbane Test debutant Rob Quiney keeping their spots.

With the three-Test series locked at 0-0, Australia will be hoping both batsmen can get amongst the runs on Adelaide's batter-friendly pitch after Clarke, Ed Cowan and Michael Hussey showed them how it's done with big scores at the Gabba.

Clarke's magnificent 259 not out, alongside Cowan's 136 and Hussey's 100 saw Australia dreaming of an unlikely day-five win over the world's top Test side, but Warner (4) and Quiney (9) both failed.

Swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus kept his place in the bowling attack after Mitchell Starc was touted as a possible replacement after some errant bowling in Brisbane.

With Starc kept on as 12th man, Clarke says he is confident in Hilfenhaus's abilities.

"I thought we did really well after ... day one, I thought the bowlers came back really well," Clarke said.

"We took 14 South African wickets, they took five of ours.

"We've got a good combination, we've got a good mixture of aggression but also bowlers that can bowl long spells and dry runs up if required out there on that wicket."

Meanwhile, South Africa has confirmed leg-spinner Imran Tahir and all-rounder Faf du Plessis will replace Rory Kleinveldt and the injured JP Duminy in its Test line-up.

Mixed messages abounded over whether Watson could play solely as a batsman if he was not fit enough to fulfil his bowling duties.

High performance manager Pat Howard was against Watson's selection unless he could bowl, while chairman of selectors John Inverarity was open to Watson playing as a specialist batsman.

While Watson insisted he would not bowl if he was selected, former captain Ricky Ponting said that would put too much pressure on his team-mates.

"No one can go into a Test match 70 per cent fit," Ponting said.

"I don't care if you're a batsman and a slip fielder. If you can't bat at 100 per cent, then you are putting pressure on other blokes as well."

Tags: cricket, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted November 21, 2012 11:23:26

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Aussies target return to top, says Clarke

Updated October 16, 2012 08:57:16

Captain Michael Clarke expressed his confidence Australia can reclaim cricket's world number one ranking in a gruelling schedule of 20 Tests in the year ahead.

Australia, currently ranked third, begins its quest to return to the top of world cricket in the first of three Tests against the top-ranked South Africa at the Gabba on November 9.

That will be followed by three Tests at home against Sri Lanka in December-January, a four-Test tour to India in February-March before back-to-back Ashes series away and home.

After dominating world cricket since 1995, Australia's fortunes dived following the retirement of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden, culminating in a 3-1 Ashes defeat at home in the 2010/11 season.

But Australia showed signs of a revival with a 4-0 whitewash of India last summer at home and the emergence of a new generation of rising stars - David Warner, James Pattinson and Pat Cummins.

"I make no bones about the Australian team getting back on top," Clarke told the official launch of the Australian cricketing summer in Sydney on Monday.

"It's a really exciting 12-15 months, as big a time that I will have in my career.

"I can guarantee you it certainly won't be lack of work ethic that lets the Australian cricket team down."

Clarke said Australia had good foundations to build from their thrashing of India which, only months before, was ranked as the world's leading Test side.

"We started well against India and we are wanting to build on that," Clarke said.

"It is a really exciting time for this young side."

Back-to-back Ashes series will be played for the first time next year in a bid to avoid a scheduling conflict with this year's London Olympics and the 2015 World Cup in Australia.

Clarke said while there was mounting anticipation ahead of the Ashes in England next July-August his side needed to first prove their character against a battle-hardened South Africa.

"We have some really tough opposition in South Africa, the number one side in Test cricket, coming to Australia very soon and our main focus is on that," he said.

"England is always a tough series over there, the Ashes away and the Ashes at home, a very exciting 15 months.

"South Africa are as good a team as there is in the world. They are not only strong with the ball but they have a lot of batting. It is really important for us to stay focused on them and not to look too far forward."

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, australia

First posted October 16, 2012 07:31:19

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Clarke steps back to grade cricket

Updated October 10, 2012 16:02:57

Michael Clarke will become the first Australian captain to play Sydney grade cricket in nearly a decade when he lines up for Western Suburbs at Pratten Park on Saturday.

Clarke missed the opening day of Wests' clash with North Sydney last Saturday but has been named on the team sheet for day two action this weekend.

Steve Waugh was the last Australian skipper to play Sydney club cricket when he played for Bankstown in 2003 against Wests.

Clarke will also play a Twenty20 match for his club side against Gordon on Sunday.

Western Suburbs are celebrating 100 years of cricket at their home ground Pratten Park.

Fans of Clarke's might not have to wait long to see him in action with the right-hander named at number five for Wests, who are 1 for 12 in reply to Norths' total of 9 for 382 declared.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, ashfield-2131, nsw

First posted October 10, 2012 15:54:15

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Clarke makes Warriors pay at WACA

Updated September 20, 2012 12:26:59

New South Wales captain Michael Clarke capitalised on a costly fielding lapse to help the Blues secure first innings points against Western Australia on the second day of the season-opening Sheffield Shield clash at the WACA ground.

The Blues were 9 for 358 in their first innings at stumps on day two, an overall lead of 141 after the Warriors made 217 on the first day.

Steve O'Keefe was 74 not out and Doug Bollinger was on 5.

Clarke, who made just 1 in the limited overs clash between the sides on Sunday, looked in superb touch as he posted 78 before slashing a Nathan Coulter-Nile delivery to Shaun Marsh in slips.

He fell with just three runs needed to secure first innings points, having put on 87 for the sixth wicket with Moises Henriques, who also made 78.

It could have been a different story if Marsh had taken an earlier chance provided by Clarke from the same bowler.

With the Blues under some pressure at 5 for 151, Clarke got an outside edge from the bowling of the unlucky Coulter-Nile.

The ball carried comfortably to Marsh at second slip, but he grassed the simple catch.

Later in the same over, Clarke top-edged a pull shot to fine leg, where the ball landed just in front of Nathan Rimmington as he charged in off the boundary.

Coulter-Nile (2 for 84) also had opener Scott Henry (39) dropped in slips on 16 earlier in the day.

All-rounder Steven Smith, who made an unbeaten 99 in the one-day match, failed to replicate that form and fell to Rimmington (4 for 70) for a duck.

Veteran Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (2) lasted just 16 balls being falling LBW to Coulter-Nile.

Haddin played right across the line, but did not appear pleased with the decision.

Henriques was also adjudged LBW, to Rimmington, and was another who did not look happy with the verdict.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, perth-6000, sydney-2000

First posted September 19, 2012 20:45:22

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Clarke named in one-day team of the year

Updated September 15, 2012 23:22:00

Michael Clarke was the only Australian named in the ICC one-day team of the year, for which India's MS Dhoni was named as captain for the second consecutive year.

Clarke, who also made the ICC Test team of the year, scored 727 runs over the last 12 months in one-day internationals at an average of 42.76 including a hundred against Sri Lanka in March.

Shane Watson was selected as the 12th man despite missing a number of the Australian summer's one-day matches due to injury,

Dhoni, in the team for a fifth year in succession, was joined by compatriots Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir in the XI.

Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara and fast bowler Lasith Malinga made the side, as did Pakistan spinners Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi.

The world's number one one-day international side England is represented by captain Alastair Cook and paceman Steven Finn, with Morne Morkel the only selection from second-place South Africa.

"This team, along with the test team of the year was extremely difficult to decide upon, but we feel the side has strength to bat well down the order while also having a good variety for any type of conditions when it comes to its bowling attack," former West Indies captain and chairman of the ICC Awards selection panel Clive Lloyd said.

"With six countries represented and a vast expanse of talent the team would be a challenge to beat for any number of opposition sides."

The other awards will be announced at the ICC awards ceremony in Colombo on Sunday (AEST).

ICC one-day team of the Year (in batting order): Gautam Gambhir (India), Alastair Cook (England), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), Virat Kohli (India), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (India, wicketkeeper/captain), Michael Clarke (Australia), Shahid Afridi (Pakistan), Morne Morkel (South Africa), Steven Finn (England), Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka), Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan). 12th Man: Shane Watson (Australia).

ABC/AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, onedayseries, australia, sri-lanka

First posted September 15, 2012 20:39:25

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We can win T20 World Cup: Clarke

Updated September 13, 2012 21:45:56

Michael Clarke believes Australia showed in its last two games against Pakistan that it has the capacity to win the Twenty20 World Cup.

Australia slipped below Ireland to tenth in the world with defeat to Pakistan in the first of the three-match series, but put in fine displays in the second match, where Pakistan won by a run in a super over, and the final dead rubber which it won by 94 runs.

Australia's World Twenty20 campaign starts with a match against Ireland on September 19 and Clarke feels his country has a legitimate shot at victory in Sri Lanka.

Clarke, who will play his first match of the Australian domestic season for New South Wales against Western Australia on Sunday, has offered his encouragement to coach Mickey Arthur, Twenty20 skipper George Bailey and his Test and ODI number two Shane Watson.

"We need to turn (the ranking) around, and what better time than at the World Cup," Clarke said

"I think we can win the Twenty20 World Cup.

"We've got the talent and we showed that in the last game against Pakistan in the UAE, and I think we've showed it in patches over the last couple of years."

"I've been on the phone to Mickey Arthur, George and Shane Watson. I'm supporting as closely as I possibly can," he said.

"(But) I'm really focused on trying to get my head back around Test cricket."

Clarke and his Blues teammates face Western Australia in a Sheffield Shield match after Sunday's one-dayer but much of the side will have just one more first-class fixture before the first Test due to the Sydney Sixers playing in the Twenty20 Champions League in October.

The Perth Scorchers are also involved and James Pattinson likely to be called upon to play for the Kolkata Knight Riders in South Africa.

Australia's bowling coach Ali de Winter will travel to the Champions League to do some red-ball work with his charges during the tournament and monitor their workload.

But Clarke is confident the short form of the game will not ruin his side's Test preparations.

"Unfortunately there's nothing you can do. The Champions League has been on for a couple of years now, it was put in this place a long time ago," Clarke said at the Blues' season launch on Thursday.

"I guess the advantage is that all countries are affected the same way, it's not just the Australian players.

"There's a lot of South Africans involved as well ... it's fair for everybody.

"It's important the guys over in the Champions League play well there and hopefully have some success.

"But in the back of their mind they're thinking about the start of the Test series.

"They're a very good team, it's no coincidence they're the number one Test team.

"We're going to have to be at our best.

"We saw them not long ago in South African conditions, we know how good they are."

AAP/ABC

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, australia

First posted September 13, 2012 20:01:17

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We need to get better: Clarke

Updated July 12, 2012 17:29:31

Captain Michael Clarke says the Australia team needs to undergo serious self-evaluation after its humiliating 4-0 one-day international defeat to England.

Australia captain Michael Clarke admitted he hadn't seen a 4-0 one-day campaign defeat by England coming after his side made some unwanted history here on Tuesday.

England cruised to a seven-wicket in a rain-affected fifth and final one-day international, triumphing in convincing style under the Old Trafford floodlights as they made it 10 straight victories in this format.

But for Australia this was their heaviest series defeat in the 40-year history of one-day internationals.

Indeed it was only the washed out clash at Edgbaston last week that denied England the chance of a 5-0 series clean sweep which would have seen them replace Australia at the top of the 50-over world rankings.

Only George Bailey, who gave Australia a glimmer of hope with a valuable 46 not out on Tuesday, among the tourists could look back on this series with much pride and Clarke said: "I certainly didn't expect to lose 4-0 that's for sure.

"We need to play better cricket. We need to sit down as a team and have a look at our performances over the last 12 months and areas we need to get better," he added.

"It certainly wasn't preparation. I thought our training was outstanding and we played some really good cricket in the couple of warm-up games but we have no excuses," Clarke insisted.

"I think a lot of credit needs to go to England as well. They've outplayed us in all four matches, they've been very consistent, their bowlers have bowled with good patience and discipline and their batters have made runs.

"We haven't done both. We didn't have anybody make a big score as a batter, we lost a lot of early wickets throughout the series and we didn't execute our skills as well as you need to."

However, Australia have made it clear they are now looking to use one-dayers as a means of finding out whether players are up to the demands of international cricket rather than pitching them into high-profile Test series such as next year's campaign in England, where they will try to regain the Ashes.

"It's been good to have a look at guys, no doubt," Clarke said. "It's good to give them a taste of international cricket.

"I know it's a different format but for me I guess I got my opportunity in Test cricket through one-day form.

"Any chance you get to play for Australia in one-day cricket you're pushing for Test selection I guess."

England, as well as pushing hard for top spot in the one-day rankings, are also currently at the summit of the International Cricket Council's standings for Test and Twenty20 cricket.

But the bold Clarke insisted: "I think we have enough good players in the country, we are going to have to work our backsides off but I think we have enough talent to be number one all three forms of the game."

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, australia

First posted July 12, 2012 08:10:19

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Don't think about Ashes, says Clarke

Updated June 19, 2012 22:25:07

Captain Michael Clarke says his inexperienced Australian team-mates risk missing out on next year's Ashes tour by focusing too much on it.

The Australians are gearing up for this month's five-match one-day series against England which is being viewed as a teaser for the 2013 battle for the urn.

With half of the touring squad having never played a one-day international in England, the Australian brains trust is keen for the likes of Pat Cummins, James Pattinson and David Warner to soak up the experience.

Clarke said the youthful looking team had to focus on getting the job done in the next three weeks with the Ashes still more than a year away.

"It's important for us as a group to not get too carried away with the Ashes," Clarke said.

"The reality is, if we don't perform as a team now, you don't even worry about the Ashes because you're not on that trip.

"It's so far away for us that as a team we haven't spoken about it.

"Yes, it is the pinnacle as a Test cricketer.

"It's in the back of your mind, but we've got a lot of cricket in front of us where we're going to have to perform individually and as a team, before we even worry about the Ashes."

Australia open their tour with a 50-over clash against Leicestershire on Thursday at Grace Road with the series against England starting on June 29 at Lord's.

Coach Mickey Arthur is open to the idea of playing young speedsters Cummins and Pattinson together in the national team for the first time.

The quicks have helped re-energise the Australian team in the past 12 months with only injuries stopping them from not playing at the same time.

"I think there might be an opportunity down the line," Arthur said.

"We have a good stock of fast bowlers and there are places up for grabs.

"These three warm-up games are going to determine who plays.

"There is a lot to play for, certainly in the fast bowling department."

Clarke warned the pitches in England meant Cummins and Pattinson, who can both clock speeds of up to 150km/h, couldn't afford to rely on their raw pace.

"It doesn't matter how fast you bowl, if you're not accurate, you're not going to have success," he said.

The tourists will play Ireland in a one-day international in Belfast on Saturday and Essex at Chelmsford three days later.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, united-kingdom, england

First posted June 19, 2012 09:25:12

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