Testing time begins
Clarke buoyant ahead of brutal 15-month schedule
CAPTAIN Michael Clarke is confident his rejuvenated Test side can reclaim cricket’s world No.1 ranking, and the Ashes, in a massive year ahead for Australian cricket.
Australia begins its quest to return to the top of world cricket on November 9 when the three-Test series against No. 1- ranked South Africa kicks off in Brisbane.
After that, the side faces another three- Test series against Sri Lanka, before embarking on a four-Test tour to India and back-to-back Ashes series in one of the most testing and anticipated periods in recent memory.
After dominating the world cricketing landscape since 1995, Australia has slipped in recent years, crashing to a 3-1 Ashes defeat at home in 2010- 11, including three innings defeats.
But a 4-0 whitewash of India last summer and the emergence of a new generation of stars including David Warner, James Pattinson and Pat Cummins has given rise to hope Australia could return to No.1 in all forms of the game.
‘‘I make no bones about the Australian team getting back on top,’’ Clarke said at the official launch of the Australian cricketing summer in Sydney.
‘‘It’s a really exciting 12-15 months; as big a time that I will have in my career.
‘‘I can guarantee you it certainly won’t be lack of work ethic that lets the Australian cricket team down.’’
Clarke said Australia had a good base to build from given its thrashing of India, which, only months before, was the world’s leading Test side.
‘‘ We started well against India and we are wanting to build on that,’’ Clarke said.
Back-to-back Ashes series will be played for the first time next year, scheduling that came about due to the London Olympics and the 2015 cricket World Cup.
Clarke understands the anticipation around the battle between cricket’s oldest foes but said his side must prove its character against a battlehardened South Africa first.
‘‘We have some really tough opposition in South Africa, the No.1 side in Test cricket, coming to Australia very soon and our main focus is on that,’’ he said.