Test road woes must stop, says Clarke

Australia captain Michael Clarke doesn’t need reminding about his team’s poor recent form in away Test series.

Clarke says finding consistency on the road ahead of next month’s two Test tour of the Caribbean has been a big focus for the team.

Since defeating the West Indies 2-1 in 2012, Australia have won just one Test series on the road in four trips.

While that 2-1 victory over South Africa in 2014 was remarkable, it looks more of an anomaly than the norm when compared to the three other away trips Clarke’s men have made in the past three years.

The infamous “Homework-gate” tour of India in 2012 ended 4-0 to the hosts.

In the 2013 Ashes, Australia again failed to win a match as England claimed the urn 3-0.

Last year’s two-match tour against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates also ended in a blank and Clarke knows his team need to turn that around against the Windies with another Ashes tour to follow straight after.

“As a team we know we really want to have some more consistent success away from home,” Clarke said.

“Over the last couple of years we’ve probably come to understand the only way to get that is through hard work.”

While Australia’s squad is still coming together two days out of their three-day tour match in Antigua, Clarke is confident the group is switched on to turning around their road woes.

“Even some of the IPL players watching them bat and bowl at the nets, they’re raring to go,” Clarke said.

“It’s a nice feeling in the group at the moment. We know we’ve got some tough cricket ahead and we’re really focused on trying to beat the West Indies in their own backyard.”

AUSTRALIA’S ROAD WOES SINCE 2012 TOUR OF CARIBBEAN

Tests: 14

Wins: Two

Losses: 10

Drawn: Two

* Figures include 4-0 and 2-0 whitewashes by India (2012) and Pakistan (2014)

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!