Ashes: Centurions Cook, Clarke hungry as ever

Rival captains vow to make their hundredth test memorable.

PERTH: England captain Alastair Cook insisted Thursday his under-pressure team was as hungry as ever and did not need lifting, despite being crushed in the first two Tests of the Ashes series by Australia.

Cook, who like Australian skipper Michael Clarke will play his 100th Test in Perth from Friday, said his side retained the belief that they can prevent Australia winning at the WACA to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-Test series.

“Our confidence has obviously had a hit from the first two Test matches,” he told reporters, referring to Brisbane and Adelaide. “But as a squad we’ve made a conscious effort to look forward rather than back. We think we’ve got our preparations right.”

England will go into the Test with coach Andy Flower suggesting there will be changes from the team that played in Adelaide, where they opted for two spinners in Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann.

Perth is more of a fast-bowlers track and Panesar is expected to miss out, although a team has yet to be announced.

“We have a squad full of people who are determined to turn the ship around, and that’s what we must do,” said Flower.

Clarke confident Harris will play in Perth

Australia pace man Ryan Harris is battling a sore knee but captain Michael Clarke said Thursday he was confident the 34-year-old will play in the third Ashes Test against England.

Harris has been a crucial part of the attack that has fired Australia to a 2-0 lead over their arch-rivals, but he reported stiffness during the second Test in Adelaide.

“Harris has had an ongoing knee issue throughout his career which we manage after each Test he plays,” a Cricket Australia spokesman said. Reports said he was a doubt for the third Test but Harris bowled at full pace in the nets at the WACA Ground on Thursday and Clarke said he was confident he would play.

However, all-rounder James Faulkner suffered a broken thumb during batting practice, dashing his hopes of inclusion for the Test. Faulkner, 12th man for the last Test against England and a mooted replacement for Harris, was hit while batting in the nets.

Meanwhile, Clarke warned his team that the Test will not be won by raw pace alone, with bowlers needing to be smart in the forecasted searing heat.

Clarke feels “a great sense of anticipation around the country” about winning the series but said it was far from a foregone conclusion.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2013.

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