Australia still a work in progress: Clarke

Captain eyes improvements ahead of tour to India.

SYDNEY: Australia wrapped up a home series sweep over Sri Lanka for the second season in a row on Sunday, but captain Michael Clarke admits they are a work in progress as they embark on their toughest ever year of test cricket.

Fragility in the top order, the retirement of Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey from the middle order and injuries to the pace bowling unit mean there is plenty to ponder ahead of a tour to India and back-to-back Ashes series.

“It probably sums up where we are as a team,” said Clarke. “On our good days, we’re very good and we can cut it with the best, the number one team in the world, South Africa.  But on our poor days there’s a lot of areas we need to improve, both individually and as a team.”

Although Australia’s batsmen saw off Sri Lanka’s pop-gun pace attack easily enough, the way they struggled sometimes against spinner Rangana Herath did not augur well for the four-test series in February and March.



“It will be really tough, especially in the second innings in the subcontinent, where it is generally very tough to play spin bowling. I think we’re definitely improving, but there are areas we need to continually get better at.”

Watson to put bowling duties on hold

Meanwhile, Australia coach Mickey Arthur has confirmed that Injury-plagued all-rounder Shane Watson is set to put his bowling duties on hold and concentrate on his batting when he makes his return to the team.

“Watto wants to come back as a batsman. He wants to come back into the team with a primary focus of batting,” said Arthur.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2013.