Clarke - Ashes loss helped

Aussie skipper wants to see the team back on top of the Test rankings

Last updated: 28th January 2012  

Clarke - Ashes loss helped

Michael Clarke: Looking for Australia to get back to the top

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Michael Clarke says the pain of Australia's Ashes humbling by England last year helped spur them on into a new era.

Test captain Clarke was at the helm as a new-look Australia battered India 4-0 just a year after an equalling humbling 3-1 reverse at home against England.

A lot of changes have occurred since then, with a new coach, selection team and captain in place, with Clarke replacing Ricky Ponting at the helm.

Quick bowlers James Pattinson, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle have formed a fearsome unit - although Pattinson has been injured for some of this series - and David Warner has finally emerged as the dashing opener many expected him to be.

Clarke admitted that the Ashes defeat had a definite effect on Australia and in a way helped them to turn the page and start again from scratch.

Improve

"I think it (the Ashes) has played a part," Clarke said. "It certainly has for me personally. I think individual players who were a part of last summer remember it. We said and knew we had to do a lot of work to improve our games, both personally and as a team.

"It's obviously a very special feeling to sit here beating India 4-0, knowing that last summer I couldn't buy a run. It's a great feeling.

"I hate to say it but throughout your career you need to go through the tough times individually and as a team to realise how hard Test cricket is and how special it is when you have days like today and a series like this."

Other chastening losses have occurred since the Ashes, such as being railroaded for 47 by South Africa after holding a 188-run lead, and then surrendering to New Zealand having bowled them out for 150.

"The loss in South Africa and the loss against New Zealand is something that every player in that change room has had in the front of their mind," Clarke added.

Pushing

"That's probably been a bit of an inspiration to make sure when we feel like things are going well, to keep pushing forward; to make the most of the momentum that we've been able to have.

"Consistency is an area we've had to work on as a team.

"To be able to keep backing up throughout this series and win all four Test matches shows we're improving in that area."

Clarke wants to see the team back at the top of the Test rankings, but knows they have a long way to go as they sit in fourth, still just behind India despite giving them such a thumping.

"Right now we're not the number one Test team in the world so it's about us trying to become better every single match," said Clarke. "We're currently ranked fourth in the world. We've got a hell of a lot of work to do to get back to where I see this team going.

"But we've shown a lot of people around the world that we're on the way up, which is a really positive sign."

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