Clarke gears up for Adelaide test
Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke is geared up for the second Ashes test match that is set to be played at the Adelaide Oval from Friday.
The Aussies were on top on the first two and a half days of the Gabba test match the opening test of the series before the English team stage an astonishing batting performance on the last two days of the match to pull off an incredible draw.
Their dominance can be gauged from their score of 517/1 with all three batsmen who batted in the second innings going past the three figures mark.
Meanwhile the competition for the pace bowling slots for the second test in the Australian line-up have taken the centre stage ahead of the match.
Left armer Doug Bollinger and right armer Ryan Harris were drafted in the 13 man squad for the match, and both of them upped the ante as they looked to seal their berths in the test.
"I tried to bat in the other net, didn't I?" joked Australia's vice-captain, Michael Clarke, who defended himself by saying that he was fully fit despite of his below par performance in Brisbane. He said, "They're both class acts, no doubt. They've both
had success in international cricket, whether that be in one-day or Tests, and they're both looking forward to an opportunity. The selectors have obviously got a tough job, but we've got to pick the attack we think can take 20 wickets on a pretty good batting
wicket."
On the other hand there were reports emanating in the Australian media that fast bowler Mitchell Johnson who went wicket less in the Gabba test is set to be dropped for Adelaide.
The fire was further fuelled when he did not make it to the practice session today; one Australian website reported that he had a tiff with the selectors which promoted him to stay away from the session.
Clarke jumped to his defence when media asked him about the incident claiming that he was not taking part in Brisbane where he conceded 170 runs.
"Mitch is fine," said Clarke. "He's had a bat today - again he wasn't bowling today, in preparation for the Test, to allow his body to have a bit of a rest. All of us face criticism throughout our career - sometimes more often than not, especially when you're
not scoring as many runs or taking as many wickets as you'd like. But he's faced it before; I'm sure he'll face it again. He's looking forward to this opportunity in this Test match, and if he gets his chance I'm sure he'll grab it with both hands."
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 who was bogged down by a back injury on the eve of the series claimed that his back feels fine.
He added that the main concern for him was that he didn't play as well as he would've liked both with the bat and in the field during the first Test.
He was dismissed attempting a pull shot off England’s most successful bowler of the Gabba test Steven Finn.
Clarke was quick to clarify that it was not his back problem that was to be blamed for his failure as he was fit enough to perform in that Test and unfortunately failed to make the most of the opportunity that presented itself especially with the bat.
The right handed batsman concluded that he and the rest of the team were h**l bent upon taking the lead in the series at Adelaide and the team had the ammunition to make a strong comeback and assert themselves against the POMS.
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