By Julian Guyer
Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke returned to the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday hoping yet more success on the ground where he scored a century on his Test debut.
Published: Mar 09, 2011, 04:48 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 09, 2011, 04:48 PM (IST)
Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke, seen here in February 2011, has returned to the Chinnaswamy Stadium hoping for yet more success on the ground where he scored a century on his Test debut.
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By Julian Guyer
Bengaluru: Mar 9, 2011
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Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke returned to the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday hoping yet more success on the ground where he scored a century on his Test debut.Â
Australia, bidding for a fourth straight World Cup title and fifth in all, continue their campaign in Bangalore against minnows Kenya and Canada on Sunday and a week on Wednesday respectively. It was at the Chinnaswamy in 2004 where Clarke, batting at No 6, made a memorable 151 on his Test debut against an India attack featuring Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh and now retired leg-spinner Anil Kumble as Australia won the opening match of that series by 217 runs.Â
“I obviously scored a hundred on my Test debut here,” said the 29-year-old Clarke on Wednesday. “I’ve also got a one-day hundred but I’ve had some low scores too. Hopefully, I continue to play well here. There are a couple of photos of me in the changing room with my family when I scored my hundred on debut. It’s a very special ground for me.”Â
Australia have been boosted by the arrival of experienced middle-order batsman Michael Hussey late on Tuesday. The left-hander, named in Australia’s original 15-man squad, was controversially omitted when selectors refused to accept his assurances he would be fully fit following pre-tournament hamstring surgery.Â
However, he has now been called-up as a replacement for injured fast bowler Doug Bollinger and Clarke said the squad were delighted to have the noted one-day ‘finisher’, who averages nearly 52 in limited overs internationals, back in their squad.Â
“I’ve seen Huss this morning and he was very excited to be here,” Clarke said. “He’s keen as mustard to get a bat in his hands. He brings a lot to our team, a lot of experience, his career in all forms is as good as anybody’s in the world and his stats in one-day cricket are fantastic. I think opposition teams will definitely take note Mike Hussey is in our squad and he will definitely play a big part. It’s great to have him back around.”Â
Australia will be favourites to record huge wins over non-Test nations Kenya and Canada but Clarke said the way Ireland, also an associate country, had defeated England by three wickets in a group match in Bangalore had been a wake-up call to all ‘major’ sides. “There is a long way to go in this tournament…we’ve already seen a few upsets. You have to be at your best every time you take the field, otherwise you’ll get beat. The Irish have played some unbelievable cricket. We won’t be taking Kenya or Canada lightly.”
© AFP
