Need to adapt better: Michael Clarke

After Australia lost the first Ashes test to England by 169 runs at the Swalec Stadium in Cardiff, Australia captain Michael Clarke has said that his side needs to adapt better if the pitches for the next test matches are similar to that at Cardiff.

Clarke’s concerns are well founded as the Australian side was dismissed twice by England in 154.2 overs and lost inside 4 days. England’s bowlers didn’t only attacked the stumps, but also showed great discipline but not giving many loose deliveries.

Clarke, while talking to Sky Sports said, “That’s part of playing international cricket, you got to have success away from home as well and a big part of that is adapting to conditions. Let’s wait and see what the wicket’s like at Lord’s, I look forward to hopefully seeing a little bit more grass, but if we get similar conditions we’ve got to play better than we did here.”

“We know what’s expected of us as individual players, we know the conditions, all the guys have been able to see that now. I think the guys have prepared really well, we just haven’t played our best cricket against a good opposition. If you don’t play your best you lose,” Clarke added.

Clarke was also concerned about the fitness of strike bowler Mitchell Starc who got his ankle injured while bowling. Clarke hoped that Starc would be fit for the next test in Lord’s starting in next 5 days.

“He walked out and batted, which was a positive, he was still able to bowl and took a couple of wickets in the second innings, so hopefully he’ll be fit and available for the second Test. The real positive for us was that he was able to bowl and get through it.”

Clarke admitted that Australia were outplayed in all the departments of the game and was all praise for the England team.

“To cut a long story short I think we were outplayed in all three facets of the game. I think England’s batting in the first innings, their bowling throughout the whole game and their catching was exceptional. We’ve got some work to do before the second Test.”

Australia have not won an Ashes series in England since 2001, and if they are to change history this time, captain Clarke needs to inspire a very talented unit to perform upto potential and would have to find out a way to tackle Joe Root.

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