Captain Michael Clarke said on Sunday that Australia could play two spinners in the opening Test against the West Indies next month before he left to join up with the rest of the squad in the Caribbean.
Published: Mar 25, 2012, 11:49 AM (IST)
Edited: Mar 25, 2012, 11:49 AM (IST)
Michael Clarke left Australia to join his side in the Caribbean for Test series © AFP
Sydney: Mar 25, 2012
Captain Michael Clarke said on Sunday that Australia could play two spinners in the opening Test against the West Indies next month before he left to join up with the rest of the squad in the Caribbean.
Clarke stayed in Australia for treatment on a hamstring injury and has followed the ongoing one-day series against the West Indies on television.
“The wickets look really slow and have spun as much as any wickets around the world,” Clarke told reporters at Sydney airport.
“We always talk about spin in India and Sri Lanka but the wicket in St Vincent, that’s as much as I’ve seen the ball spin and bounce for a long time.
“If conditions are like what we’ve seen in the one-dayers, then it’s something we definitely need to consider (playing two spinners).”
Clarke believes spinners Michael Beer and Nathan Lyon could make a good double act in the Test series, starting in Barbados on April 7.
“They’re two very good spinners who have great control,” he said. “I’ve seen them both throughout the Australian summer bowl very early in an innings, so they can control the new ball as well.
“From what I’ve seen in the one-dayers, I think they’ll both be a handful.”
While he admits Australia have not been at their best in the one-day series, Clarke said it was going to take some players time to adjust to the Caribbean conditions. The West Indies are chasing their first ODI series win over Australia in 17 years and lead 2-1 with one match to play.
“I would like to have won every game but conditions have been tough,” he said.
“It’s a lot different from what we’ve been facing in Australia. It’s been a great experience for guys who haven’t been to the West Indies before. We’ve got plenty of time plus we’ve got a three-day tour game before the first Test and we will be 100 percent ready to go for that first Test match.”
Clarke said he had come through weeks of physio treatment in great shape and would be ready to play in the opening Bridgetown Test.
He was ruled out during the home tri-series finals earlier this month with a hamstring injury suffered against Sri Lanka. (AFP)
