- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
A spin camp with Shane Warne has Michael Clarke ready to become more than just an occasional bowler in next month’s Test cricket series in India.
Australia’s players can now put their focus firmly on defending the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after today’s 73-run win over Bangladesh in Darwin completed a 3-0 one-day series cleansweep.
The home side laboured to 5-198 with the bat, but even that was comfortable enough, as they stamped out a brief Bangladesh challenge and bowled the tourists out for 125 at TIO Stadium.
Having gleaned everything they could from almost a fortnight of work in the heat and humidity, Australia’s next challenge will be a gruelling schedule of four Tests over 32 days, starting October 9.
With the spin department one of several major questions yet to be answered, Clarke is preparing to bowl plenty of his left-arm orthodox in India, and recently sought out Australia’s greatest bowler for advice.
“I spent four days in Melbourne with Warney before coming here and did a lot of talking and going through a few field placements for my type of bowling, which I found really helpful,” he said.
“I’ll be on the phone to him continuously and then I’ll be trying to use India to prepare to bowl a few overs.
“I hope I do get a bowl. I see my part-timers as having some sort of role to play over there.”
Australia’s main choice of spinner is far from sealed, as wrist spinners Bryce McGain (shoulder) and Beau Casson (adductor) were injured in this week’s Australia A game, and Andrew Symonds is unlikely to tour because he is considering his future.
Clarke considers himself very much a part-time bowler, but took 6-9 in the Mumbai Test in 2004 and spun Australia to victory over India in Sydney last summer.
A back problem has prevented him bowling in the past, but he now felt fit.
“I’ve always been serious about my bowling,” he said.
“The one thing I’ve always made clear to the world is that I believe I’m a batsman who bowls.
“I’m not going to try to be a frontline bowler, but there’s a role for me to play as that part-time bowler.”
Today’s match was much closer than the previous two, where Australia won by 180 runs and eight wickets.
The home side again had Mike Hussey (57 not out) and Shaun Marsh (30) to thank for posting a defendable total, although Australia laboured for most of the innings and at one stage went almost 30 overs without a boundary off the bat.
But three early Bangladesh wickets put them in control, until opener Tamim Iqbal (63) and Shakib Al Hasan (27) took the score to 3-82.
Just when Bangladesh dared to dream or beating Australia again, after Cardiff 2005, the now all-too-familiar batting collapse kicked in.
Allrounders James Hopes (3-30) and Shane Watson (2-8) wrested back control with five wickets in eight overs.
Clarke was pleased with Australia’s performances in Darwin and their extra fitness work, which would hold them in good stead for India.
Hussey, with scores of 85 and eight not out in the first two games, and Marsh, with 76 and 69 not out, were the only batsmen to consistently fire.
All the bowlers took wickets, and pacemen Stuart Clark (five wickets at 9.20) and Mitchell Johnson (six at 10.50) got good work-outs, although the latter was taken to by Tamim today.
The major downside for Australia this series was Clarke’s own batting (40 runs in three digs), which he described as horrendous.
Australia’s players will return to their home bases tonight and tomorrow before the Test squad departs for India on September 21.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.