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Sunday Nov 17, 2024
Saturday, 16 June 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Test and one-day cricket captain Michael Clarke is demanding his limited-overs team lift and says the tour of England and Ireland represents the start of a two-year campaign to make Australia the top nation in all three forms of the game.
Australia head the one-day ratings, but are third in the Test standings and fifth in the Twenty20 format.
The Test team has improved markedly under Clarke’s leadership and he is seeking similar gains in the one-day arena, especially away from home.
“We’ve been the number one one-day team in the world now for a while now but we need to continue to raise the bar,” Clarke said at Sydney Airport on Thursday.
“I think our cricket of late in the shorter form hasn’t been as consistent as we would like.
“I think once we get on a plane today, it’s probably the start of a two-year journey for this Australian team - whether it be the one-day team, the Test team, one-day team or the Twenty20 team - to have a lot of success and get back to being the number one team in all three forms of the game.”
Australia will play two English county teams and a limited-overs international against Ireland before facing fourth-ranked England in five one-day internationals. Clarke said he was surprised to hear explosive England batsman Kevin Pietersen had retired from one-day cricket.
“I’m thrilled I don’t have to play against him in one-day cricket because he’s such a good player and he’s had a lot of success and he’s a match winner,” Clarke said.
“But England have a lot of good players in their team. They enjoy the shorter form of the game. They’ve got some good talent coming through.
Clarke predicted Ian Bell, Pietersen’s replacement at the top of the order, would do well and nominated the bowling unit as England’s greatest strength.
“We are certainly going to have to be at our best in those conditions to beat them,” Clarke said.
While he has six specialist pacemen at his disposal, Clarke ruled out a rotation policy. He suggested the recalled Mitchell Johnson and fellow veteran Brett Lee would perform a mentoring role towards highly-rated young speedsters Patrick Cummins and James Pattinson.
“Mitch’s experience in the UK and also in the shorter form of the games will help the likes of James and Pat. I think he and Brett Lee can play a big role with their experience,” Clarke said.
Clarke said Michael Hussey’s unavailability offered an opportunity to George Bailey, Steve Smith and Peter Forrest, but nominated David Hussey to fill his elder brother’s role of innings closer and pacer of run chases. (AAP)
