Hobart: Michael Clarke knows to keep his cool, but of late his patience has been tested by journalists with questions over his fitness.
Though Clarke has recovered from the pre-World Cup hamstring injury that he at one stage thought could end his career, many believe he hasn’t yet.
Well known for his ability to play the trickiest of deliveries, he also handled questions meant to trap him with calmness. When a journalist bluntly asked him if he is fit, Clarke retorted by saying: “I am fine. Are you?”
Another journalist asked why he restricted his laps during the warm-up and what is the issue, he said patiently: “Just part of my recovery since coming back from my injury. Just looked at my schedule going forward. I’m into West Indies [for a tour in June] to be honest, so a lot of things were put into place to make sure I recover as well as I can, not only for this game but getting ready for the quarter-final.”
Journalists still poked him with another question, asking him on after getting through the World Cup what he will be doing? Without showing any expression of discomfort, he said: “I hope we’re celebrating a World Cup victory, so I’ll give myself a little bit of time off.
“I’ll probably spend a good two to three weeks at the NCC [National Cricket Centre] continuing my strength programme, working on my cricket, in the lead-up to the West Indies.”
Still he was asked about his feet, whether they have been sore over the last few days. He said: “I’ve been a hundred per cent fine.”
So the next query was where he would bat against Scotland on Saturday. “I’m not sure yet. I’ll have a think about it overnight,” he said.
“Obviously I need another hit. I think Shane Watson needs another hit, and James Faulkner hasn’t really had a bat in this tournament either. There are probably three players that certainly need a bat.
“I’ll assess tonight and make a plan, speak to a few of the guys and get their guidance and advice. I’ll speak to Boof [coach Darren Lehmann]. I’ve spoken to Boof over the last few days about it and we’ll come up with a plan.”
For Australia, the match against Scotland is more of a practice before the quarter-finals. Though usually the team is not announced before a match, Clarke said there will be only one change, with Pat Cummins coming in for Xavier Doherty.
“I’ve said it before, it’s going to take all 15 squad members to win this World Cup. And I’ve said before that I like the fact that selectors are picking players for conditions and opposition,” he said.
“I think we’d be silly to pick our team today for the World Cup quarter-final without winning games out in Australia. We don’t know what the wicket’s going to be like. We still don’t know who we’re playing against. We assess that next week. If we win, then we’ve got everything we need. I think that’s our priority.”
Clarke also revealed his team’s goal does not change. “We want to win the match. However we do that, I’ll be happy. So, like I said, it would be great for a few guys to get a hit, but it’s about winning first and foremost. That’s our priority.
“The forecast is rain tomorrow afternoon, so we’ll have to assess that at the start of the game.”
