Loss to New Zealand a wake up call before India series: Clarke
December 12th, 2011 - 8:26 pm ICT by IANSSydney, Dec 12 (IANS) Australia have plenty to think about ahead of the Boxing Day Test against India. They lost to New Zealand at home after 25 years Monday, prompting captain Michael Clarke to call for consistency in their performance ahead of the highly anticipated India series.
Australia collapsed to 233 all out from 159 for two while chasing a 241-run target in the second Test in Hobart, letting New Zealand level the two-match series.
Australia lost heavily to South Africa in the first Test of their away tour last month, though they managed to salvage pride by winning the second and levelling the series.
Clarke said they have to show consistency against top teams.
He said it was “painful” to see his team coming up with “very poor performances” after patches of “individual brilliance”.
“You have seen some really good patches of individual excellence, and as a team we have been playing really well in patches,” Clarke told reporters at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart.
“But then you are seeing the other side as well, where we are letting ourselves down by very poor performances. We can’t seem to find that middle road. We are inconsistent at the moment, which is a real pain,” said Clarke referring to his team being bowled out for 136 after wrapping New Zealand for 150 on the opening day. In the second innings, Australia fell short seven runs of the target while opener David Warner was left stranded on 123 not out, his maiden Test century.
Michael Clarke conceded that out of form Phillip Hughes needed to go back to domestic cricket to regain his touch. Hughes has scored 9, 9, 88, 11, 10, 7, 4 and 20 in his past eight Test innings.
“He is obviously really disappointed like all the batters are, the way we played today,” Clarke said. “But Hughesy is probably the most disappointed. He has been getting out the same way. I know he has been working hard in the nets trying to improve that deficiency in his technique and he will continue to work on that. But he needs to find some runs, it is as simple as that. If he is not making them for Australia he is going to have to go back and score some for New South Wales.”
Australia play four Tests against India, beginning Dec 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and finishing in Adelaide Jan 28.
- Australia name unchanged side for second Test - Dec 08, 2011
- Clarke expects Indian fightback in Sydney - Dec 29, 2011
- Warne calls for fresh legs in Australian team - Dec 13, 2011
- Dan Christian gets Australia call-up for second Test - Dec 05, 2011
- Australia recall Hilfenhaus, Cowan set for Test debut against India - Dec 21, 2011
- Ponting, Hussey to play against India on Boxing Day, says Arthur - Dec 13, 2011
- Bellerive Oval doesn't seem to miss Ponting - Feb 24, 2012
- Clarke backs out-of-form trio - Nov 23, 2011
- We are heading to the top, says Clarke - Jan 28, 2012
- Clarke aims to take Australia back to the top - Jan 15, 2012
- We have always put the team first: Clarke - Jan 06, 2012
- No regrets about standing down: Ponting - Dec 07, 2011
- Anything less than a whitewash will be sad: Clarke - Jan 22, 2012
- Win showed the character of the team: Smith - Nov 11, 2011
- Ponting will look to score at home - Dec 08, 2011
Tags: batters, bellerive oval, boxing day, boxing day test, brilliance, captain michael, david warner, domestic cricket, first test, hobart, india series, maiden test, michael clarke, opening day, poor performances, second test, seven runs, target, test century, test innings