Aussie captain thinks his batsmen need to realise they will be accountable against the Indians.
Michael Clarke has given a word of warning to his batsmen as they prepare to take on India in the first Test on Friday.
The match is being played at Chennai, considered to be more of a bowler’s wicket than a batsman’s, so Clarke thinks his batsmen should play responsibly.
India have opted for a spin-heavy bowling attack against the Australians, with many believing Clarke’s mostly inexperienced batsmen play better against pace. This could pose problems for Australia in conditions where the ball is expected to turn and swing.
The Australian captain believes it will be difficult for the batsmen to get in and start making runs, so therefore they must bat maturely and not give their wicket away cheaply.
“If you make a fifty, a sixty, a seventy and get out, you’re more accountable than the guy who made zero, because it’s a really difficult place to start,” Clarke was quoted on ESPN.
“It’s up to the guys who get a start to take them forward.”
This puts pressure on the openers Ed Cowan and David Warner to build some solid foundations for Australia, but Clarke is also putting pressure on himself with his comments. The captain’s No.5 batting position has produced a lot of runs for the Baggy Greens – with nobody in world cricket scoring more than Clarke’s 2247 Test runs in the last two years.
However this is Australia’s first Test without experienced campaigner Mike Hussey, who retired after the last Test series. At No.6 now is the relatively inexperienced Matthew Wade and then all-rounder Moises Henriques, followed by the bowlers.
The assurance that David Warner has recovered from a thumb injury to open the batting at Chennai is a big boost for the Australians. It now means that they have experience at number four and five, with Shane Watson not having to open in place of Warner and coming in before Clarke.
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