Cricket: Pakistan and Australia face off in Test Match series decider at Headingley
Michael Clarke has spent most of his career playing at number five. Recently he has been moved up to number four on request of Captain Ricky Ponting. Clarke has moved one step closer to the top of the order. Michael Clarke has been Australia’s most successful batsman in last 12 months. Ricky Ponting explained his decision by saying that he wanted his inform batsman to play upfront.
Clarke’s last outing at number four was not successful and the stint was very short. He could only manage scores of 39, 5,5,14 and 5 at the number four slot. Clarke, however, feels confident in his new position and is eyeing a big score up the order. Clarke narrated, "Ricky came and grabbed Michael Hussey and myself at training the morning of the Derby game and told us what was happening. For me it hasn't fazed me. When I was younger I cared more about the position I batted. After getting dropped from the Australian team, for me it was always just about being in the team, it doesn't matter where I bat."
Australia has a strong middle order mainly depending upon Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey. Clarke believes his strategy will remain the same at number four but feels he will feel more comfortable knowing Mike Hussey has to bat after him. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 scored 93 runs last time he played in Headingley against England. Australia played some brilliant cricket in the last test at Headingley, where they defeated England by a margin of an innings.
"You probably get in a little bit earlier against the newer ball and if you make a big score, you can probably make a really big one, knowing you've got at least one more batter behind you", Clarke said ahead of the Leeds test. "But my role doesn't really change, you play the same way. Conditions dictate how much fast bowling you face compared to how much spin you face. I haven't changed my game at all because I'm batting at No. 4".
Pakistan will be playing under new captain Salman Butt following a surprise move by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746. Salman Butt was the obvious choice on such a short notice since he was vice captain. PCB has given captaincy responsibility to Salman Butt while Kamran Akmal will be vice captain.
Assistant coach Ijaz Ahmed has said that it’s a do or die match for Pakistan and the team is playing as a unit. He was confident that his bowling line up will once again cause problems for the Australian batting line up. "We had a meeting and told the boys it is a do-or-die game for us. We have to level the series and the boys are really keen to hit back. The team are playing as one unit and that is very important".
Pakistan will once again enter the match with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Danish-Kaneria-c1314.
Michael Clarke while remembering his good memories from Headingley said that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 will miss ex-skipper Shahid Afridi, since he has a lot experience and can galvanize a side with his captaincy. He further added, "Losing your captain would be quite a change, but in saying that he hasn't played that much Test cricket over the last five years anyway," Clarke said. "Afridi has been a wonderful player for Pakistan. He's played a lot of cricket, especially one-day cricket and has a lot of experience, and I think he'll be missed in the Test cricket as well".
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