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Friday March 29, 2024

Fit-again Clarke raring to have a go against high-flying NZ

AUCKLAND, New Zealand: Eager Australia captain Michael Clarke feels fit, while rival captain Brendan McCullum admitted he is “in awe” of Clarke’s leadership during the tragedy of Phillip Hughes’ death as Australia are set for their Group A clash against follow co-hosts New Zealand on Saturday (today).Clarke’s hamstring has been

By our correspondents
February 28, 2015
AUCKLAND, New Zealand: Eager Australia captain Michael Clarke feels fit, while rival captain Brendan McCullum admitted he is “in awe” of Clarke’s leadership during the tragedy of Phillip Hughes’ death as Australia are set for their Group A clash against follow co-hosts New Zealand on Saturday (today).
Clarke’s hamstring has been one of the most talked-about topics over the Australian summer, the 33-year-old having suffered three separate strains in a number of months to fuel speculation his playing days might be numbered.
“I feel really good,” Clarke told reporters.
“The work I’ve put in has given me a chance to get back out in the park and be able to play at 100 percent, run and don’t be restricted where I field, bat, ball and that was our goal.
“It doesn’t guarantee I’m not going to get injured again.
“The confidence I have in my mind and my body at moment has been because of the work I’ve put in over the last nine weeks.”
But he will have a tough reinstatement against in-form New Zealand, who have won all three of their World Cup matches and will be roared on by an expected sell-out crowd.
The makeup of Australia’s 11 remains a mystery but stand-in captain George Bailey, who led the team to victory in their World Cup opener, is expected to make way for Clarke.
Young paceman Pat Cummins may replace seamer Josh Hazlewood to join Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc in the pace attack.
Clarke dismissed the notion that Australia were less prepared than New Zealand due to a lack of recent matches.
“The boys have had a long summer,” he said. “The amount of cricket that Australia has played, Test and ODI cricket, everybody is as well prepared as they can be.”
New Zealand media have suggested the pressure on Clarke could play into the hands of the hosts on Saturday, but McCullum was taking no positives from it.
“No, because I think Michael Clarke is the leader of the Australian team,” McCullum told reporters in Auckland.
“I think we saw during the tragic circumstances around Phil Hughes’ passing how strong a leader he is and the way that he carried himself and the way that he spoke on behalf of the team.
“I think that earned adulation and respect from not just Australian people, but also people around the world.”
McCullum has won his own admirers after guiding New Zealand through three straight wins at the World Cup and blasting an astonishing 77 from 25 balls to help thrash England in their last match.
Australia’s players have lined up to sing his praises and say they have made targeting the hard-hitting Dunedin man a priority in their preparations.
Australia’s chirpy opening batsman David Warner told reporters this week that McCullum could be coaxed into a “brain explosion” if the visiting bowlers hit the right areas.
McCullum described Warner as an “outstanding” cricketer but one of only a number of dangerous Australian batsmen for his team to worry about.
“I probably am guilty of a brain explosion,” he said.
“You play long enough, you’re going to come up with some pretty — you’re going to make some people weary at times.”