Clarke admits he 'hasn't led from the front' but confident of regaining form

David Clough 22:20 31/07/2015
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Clarke has struggled so far.

    Michael Clarke admits he is letting his Australia team-mates down with his run of low scores, but is adamant too he is still capable of a major contribution in this summer’s Ashes. Clarke, who has never won a Test series in England in three previous attempts, must overturn a 2-1 deficit in the remaining two Tests if he is to taste success here for the first time.

    The 34-year-old conceded, after Australia’s eight-wicket defeat at Edgbaston, that his output of just 94 runs in six innings at number four so far is a significant part of the problem. Clarke was reflecting on a match in which the tourists were shot out for 136 in the first innings, after he chose to bat first, and were then unable to stem a tide resulting in defeat well inside three days.

    He said: “I think it’s always going to be hard to beat any opposition when they’ve got 11 and we’ve only 10. It is time for the captain to get off the plane and turn up. At the moment that’s how it feels.”

    Clarke was not the only one who had no effective answer to the bowling of James Anderson in the first innings and then man-of-the-match Steven Finn second time round – the two seamers claiming 15 of Australia’s 20 wickets.

    “With my performances so far, I certainly haven’t led from the front as I’d like to do as captain,” added Clarke.

    “I’ve always made that very clear – that’s a big part of my role as leader of this team, that I’m scoring plenty of runs and leading by example. You need to make sure you’re scoring a lot more runs than I have been so far.”

    Asked if he is still sure he is worth his place, however, he said: “I am 100 per cent confident. My self-belief is still there, and that’s because I’ve continued to work as hard as I have throughout my career.

    – England: Anderson hopes to be back for 5th Test
    – Ashes: England take 2-1 series lead at Edgbaston
    – #360stats: How Steyn reached 400 Test wickets
    – BANvSA: Second day’s play completely washed out

    “For me to have success, it’s always been about my preparation and working hard. That gives me my best chance. While I keep doing the preparation I’m doing, I believe I can have success out in the middle.”

    Clarke was far from the only Australian to fall short. In helpful conditions, they swung the ball but did not find the most testing lines.

    “The ball swung and seamed for the whole game,” said the captain. I would have liked a few more runs in the first innings. “Then when we had our chance to bowl we had perfect bowling conditions, overcast, a little bit of rain around – and we just couldn’t hit the areas consistently.”

    England, by contrast, were especially well-served by Finn and Anderson – who will miss the fourth Test at Trent Bridge because of a side strain, an absence Clarke likens to that of Australia pace spearhead Glenn McGrath for two matches in their series defeat 10 years ago.

    He said of Anderson: “I think he will be a big loss, like Glenn McGrath was to us in 2005.

    “I think whoever England bring in, though, will do well. It’s their home conditions – they are used to doing well here. As long as we play our best, I am confident we can beat whatever 11 players we play against.” 

    Recommended