Michael Clarke urges the new look Aussies to make most of their opportunity

After getting whitewashed at the hands of the Proteas, the Aussies have come back strongly in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy against New Zealand and have posted two mammoth total in the first two encounters. It was a great fight-back by the resilient Australians, a team that collapsed in its most recent Test series against South Africa. Former World Cup winning captain Michael Clarke said that while captain Steve Smith and David Warner have put their hands up and have been leading from the front.

With that, the current crop of cricketers including the likes of Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh were finally proving their worth. Warner scored a scintillating 119 in the country’s capital and Steve Smith carried on from where he left in the 1st ODI. Eventually, the captain was dismissed for 72 but his dismissal didn’t dent their scoring rate as Head and Marsh continued the onslaught and both scored quick fire half centuries.

While Head scored 57 of 32 balls including 6 fours and 2 sixes, Marsh remained unbeaten on 76 of 40 balls, hitting 2 fours and 7 maximum in the process.

Clarke said it was now a matter of performing consistently as a unit with a stuffed international schedule on the agenda. “Smith and Warner, they’ve shown their class over a long period of time,” Clarke said.

“We know they can make runs and perform at the highest level, we just need these other players now to take their time and be given enough opportunity, to grab their opportunity like Head and Marsh have done.

“I think we should not get too carried away at this stage either way.

“I said that when Australia lost the Test series to South Africa, not to get too carried away that Australian cricket was in such a bad place. I never thought it was in such a bad place, because I’ve always believed there is a lot of talent.

“Opportunities like the first two ODIs for Head is exactly what he needs and he is scoring runs. Marsh just making runs there … we’ve got to keep the faith with certain players and allow them time to spend in the middle.

Smith and Warner have established themselves in the team with Warner being one of the most destructive batsmen in world cricket. Clarke was also surprised with Kane Williamson’s decision to bowl first on a pitch renowned for big scores.

“I said at the time that I could understand to a certain extent why Kane Williamson thought about it, but I also in the same breath said I would have batted first if I was captain,” Clarke said.

“The wicket looked great, and I think allowing Australia to bat first in any one-day international is dangerous.

“I think they feel like they can play with a lot more freedom when they bat first because there’s no target in their mind that they have to play a certain way, so they just think ‘right, let’s just consolidate at the top and go as hard as we can’.

“It didn’t swing much at all — I think that’s why they would have elected to bowl first — hoping the ball would swing.”

Speaking of the crowds and pitch condition in Canberra, Clarke said, “I think we always get good crowds in Canberra, to be honest. I think it’s great that we’re playing another one-day international here.”

“The ground, every time I come here, continues to get better. I think the wicket is the best I’ve ever seen it to be honest … it’s rock hard and it’s got enough pace and bounce in it. As a batsman it looked like an absolute road so I think it’s always good to see international cricket played here, ” the former Aussie captain concluded.