Michael Clarke eyes first Australian Ashes win over England since 2001
Tuesday 7 July 2015 16:05, UK
Australia captain Michael Clarke insists the best team will come out on top in what he expects to be a “really close” Investec Ashes series against England.
England suffered a 5-0 whitewash in the last Ashes series, which came just six months after beating Australia on home soil in 2013.
The tourists have not won an Ashes series in England since 2001 and Clarke says victory is the only thing on his side’s mind ahead of Wednesday’s first Test at Cardiff’s SWALEC Stadium.
“It's going to be a really close series,” Clarke said at a press conference on the eve of the first Test.
“It's about consistency and execution and being able to do it for long periods of time. You need to be able to do all the right things ball after ball, day after day.
“It's why Test cricket is the pinnacle of our sport. There haven't been too many times in my career when the best team hasn't won a Test match.
“It's no coincidence we haven't won here since 2001. Beating England in their own back yard is extremely tough. We're excited by the challenge, but we know it's going to be a fantastic five-Test series.
"As a team this (winning in England) is our next major challenge. This team has gone through plenty of highs and lows and we've been able to fight through the majority of them, so the players deserve a lot of credit for that.
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"To be able to come out here and play entertaining cricket and enjoy what is always a fantastic tour, it would be a great reward for the hard work we've put in over the last four years."
Tempers flared in the first Test of the last Ashes Series as Clarke was picked up on a stump mic warning England tailender James Anderson to expect a broken arm.
Clarke, who was fined 20 per cent of his match fee by the ICC after the incident, admits he crossed the line in that Brisbane Test and insists that type of behaviour will not be repeated this time round.
“The way we've been brought up is to play tough, competitive cricket on the field but I understand and respect the rules and regulations of our game and where that line sits,” he said.
“I have made it very clear that if someone overstepped the mark in that last series it was me and as captain I need to be more disciplined.
“The mutual respect is there, it always has been from my point of view, certainly with England. They have some fantastic players and they deserve that respect. The cricket will be tough but know there is a line you can't overstep."
The Australian captain revealed he will only announce his team for the first Test following the toss at Cardiff tomorrow.
“We haven't got a team at this stage,” he said.
“The wicket has changed a fair bit since yesterday so we'll wait until tomorrow and announce our team at the toss of the coin.
“It's nice being back in Cardiff. It looks like the grass has been cut a little, but whatever we're given, that's part of playing away from home."
Clarke was also asked about the possibility of playing four pacemen in the first Test but the Australian skipper gave very little away about the composition of his bowling attack.
"There's a chance,” he said.
“There was more of a chance yesterday when that grass was left on the wicket, but there's still enough grass on there and I guess the selectors are waiting to see if it is cut again or left the way it is."
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