IT’s Michael Clarke’s way or the highway in the Australian cricket team, and veteran Mike Hussey says the team is right behind the skipper.
Clarke is off to a positive start since taking over from Ricky Ponting as captain after the World Cup, chasing a fifth consecutive series victory in this month’s two Tests in South Africa.
Victory in the one-day series against the Proteas followed triumphs over Sri Lanka (Test and one-day) and Bangladesh (one-day) on their home soil.
Hussey said the success was important for Clarke and he had earned the team’s respect.
“If you want to be part of this Australian team, you’ve got to go with the captain and we respect the way he wants to take the team,” Hussey said.
“We do want to play under Michael and I think we’re definitely going in the right direction.
“It’s been great for him personally – he’s really taken the role with a full head of steam.
“He’s very passionate about the role and he’s very clear in how he wants to lead the team.”
Hussey said Clarke encouraged his team to enjoy their one-day success, but attention has turned to the Tests starting in Cape Town on November 9.
“If we can stick together and do the basics for long, long periods of time, which is what Michael’s philosophy is, then I think we can definitely come out on top,” Hussey said.
Paceman Ryan Harris said he would be surprised if Pat Cummins were not picked for the first Test. The five fast bowlers in the squad will all be keen to push Test claims in the four-day tour match against South Africa A in Potchefstroom starting Tuesday night.
The 32-year-old Harris and Mitchell Johnson are favoured to take two of the pace roles in the first Test, leaving Peter Siddle, Trent Copeland and Cummins fighting for one spot.
“From what I’ve heard and what I’ve spoken to the other guys about, he’s (Cummins) got a really good head on his shoulders,” Harris said.
“He’s quite smart and knows his game … so if he plays, which I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t, it’d be great either bowling next to him or watching him bowl.
“What I’ve seen so far has been very, very impressive and, for a guy at 18, he’s bowled fast in the one-dayers.
“He’s only played very limited four-day cricket but I saw him bowl in the Shield final last year (for NSW) and he bowled a lot of overs and didn’t drop a lot of pace, which is even better.”
It is clear the tour match should help determine who bowls for Australia at Newlands.
“I’m definitely not, and I don’t think anyone is, expecting to walk into the team. There’s five quicks here and, potentially, any one of them could play,” Harris said.
Meanwhile, allrounder Mitch Marsh is determined to make his Test debut in the not-too-distant future.
Marsh, 20, made a good first impression on Australia’s tour of South Africa, cracking 36 off 21 balls in his Twenty20 debut before posting an unbeaten eight and snaring 1-19 with the ball in the 50-over format.
He isn’t part of Australia’s Test plans just yet, but hopes that will change down the track as he attempts to follow in the footsteps of his father Geoff and brother Shaun by playing Test cricket.
“Test cricket is the pinnacle, and I’ve put a lot of hard work into my long format of cricket,” Marsh said.
“So it’s something I’m definitely striving for. It was an eye-opening experience to learn a lot from the likes of Ricky Ponting and all the other senior players, seeing just how hard they work in training.” (Herald Sun).