Australia former skipper, Michael Clarke must have forgotten his last
India tour as a captain, as the visitors were whitewashed by 4-0. Now
his successor Steve Smith will lead the Australian team out in Pune for
the first Test on February 23.
Clarke has predicted that it will
surely be a tough contest and he reckons that rather than spinners,
Australian team should be focussing on the fast bowlers as they can do a
lot of damage.
However, Clarke had achieved a lot of milestones
against Indians in his test career, he made his first-class debut
against a touring Indian XI, even his Test debut came in Bangalore in
2004 and scored his maiden first Test century. Clarke scored his highest
test score an unbeaten 329 against India in the 2012 New Year's Test.
During a Facebook live chat, Clarke said, "Australia
is predicting that spin is going to play a huge role. But I still think
the quicks have a big role to play as well. Starc and Hazlewood will
need to take a lot of wickets to help Australia win this series. Natural
swing with the brand new ball, and especially reserve swing, is going
to be really important to the Australian team."
He further added, "Australia
is going to need everybody to really perform if they want to beat India
in their own backyard. India, on the other hand, will want to dominate,
they will want to continue to show how good they are in their own
backyard. Australia has beaten India at home, now India will want to
make sure their dominance in their own backyard stays there
Clarke has also advised that while relying on the senior players, the
skipper needs to have some patience to take wickets, he said, "It's
hard to expect players to walk straight onto the big stage and perform,
especially in conditions that are different to what you're accustomed
to. I think this Australia team is talented (but) we need to give these
players some time to play around the world in different countries,
learn, adapt, improve, get better, to see how talented they are."
Talking about the team selected by the selectors, Clarke said, "As
selectors, all they can really do is pick who they feel are the best
players and then give them the opportunity, and I think that's what
they've done. The selectors have gone with a core group of players they
feel are the best in the Australian system, and now they've got to have
the courage to stick with them and give them a chance."
Clarke concluded by conceding that it can be an eye-opener for players, he said, "This
series is going to be a really good eye opener for the players that
have never played Test cricket in India, but also for their
understanding of how you do face different conditions all around the
world."
."
Australia former skipper, Michael Clarke must have forgotten his last
India tour as a captain, as the visitors were whitewashed by 4-0. Now
his successor Steve Smith will lead the Australian team out in Pune for
the first Test on February 23.
Clarke has predicted that it will
surely be a tough contest and he reckons that rather than spinners,
Australian team should be focussing on the fast bowlers as they can do a
lot of damage.
However, Clarke had achieved a lot of milestones
against Indians in his test career, he made his first-class debut
against a touring Indian XI, even his Test debut came in Bangalore in
2004 and scored his maiden first Test century. Clarke scored his highest
test score an unbeaten 329 against India in the 2012 New Year's Test.
During a Facebook live chat, Clarke said, "Australia
is predicting that spin is going to play a huge role. But I still think
the quicks have a big role to play as well. Starc and Hazlewood will
need to take a lot of wickets to help Australia win this series. Natural
swing with the brand new ball, and especially reserve swing, is going
to be really important to the Australian team."
He further added, "Australia
is going to need everybody to really perform if they want to beat India
in their own backyard. India, on the other hand, will want to dominate,
they will want to continue to show how good they are in their own
backyard. Australia has beaten India at home, now India will want to
make sure their dominance in their own backyard stays there
Clarke has also advised that while relying on the senior players, the
skipper needs to have some patience to take wickets, he said, "It's
hard to expect players to walk straight onto the big stage and perform,
especially in conditions that are different to what you're accustomed
to. I think this Australia team is talented (but) we need to give these
players some time to play around the world in different countries,
learn, adapt, improve, get better, to see how talented they are."
Talking about the team selected by the selectors, Clarke said, "As
selectors, all they can really do is pick who they feel are the best
players and then give them the opportunity, and I think that's what
they've done. The selectors have gone with a core group of players they
feel are the best in the Australian system, and now they've got to have
the courage to stick with them and give them a chance."
Clarke concluded by conceding that it can be an eye-opener for players, he said, "This
series is going to be a really good eye opener for the players that
have never played Test cricket in India, but also for their
understanding of how you do face different conditions all around the
world."
."