Australia captain Michael Clarke is adamant his problem-plagued team can find a way to succeed against the number one-ranked South Africa when the first cricket Test begins at the Gabba on Friday.
After a week when several of Australia’s top-order batsmen failed to fire in first class matches across the country, Clarke goes into the first Test with the added worry of two players under an injury cloud.
While veteran Ricky Ponting looks likely to play despite pulling out of Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield clash against South Australia with a tight hamstring, there are serious concerns about allrounder Shane Watson, who is battling a calf strain.
Watson failed to feature in the second innings of NSW’s Shield loss to Queensland and is battling to prove his fitness for the Gabba Test, but Clarke was confident whoever took the field against the Proteas could do the job, and was adamant there would be no excuses made.
“You look at our performance last summer, he (Watson) didn’t play one Test match and we beat India 4-0,” Clarke said.
“We’ll find a way. We did last summer and if Watto’s not available somebody will come in and grab that opportunity.
“I’d love him to be fit but if he’s not we’ll find a way.”
Clarke met with the rest of Australia’s selectors on Sunday to choose two players to put on standby in case Ponting and/or Watson could not make it onto the field on Friday.
Several players were in the mix including ex-Test batsmen Phil Hughes and Usman Khawaja, in-form Tasmanian Alex Doolan, allrounders Andrew McDonald and Glenn Maxwell and Victorian opener Rob Quiney.
Clarke said the number of contenders was one positive Australia could take from their disrupted preparations.
“There’s plenty of players performing so if somebody is unavailable due to injury somebody else will get an opportunity and will step up,” he said.
“The guys that are fit and ready to go I know are looking forward to this first Test against South Africa and there’s no room for excuses here.
“We’ve got to be ready. We’ll be as well prepared as we possibly can be. We’ve got the next four days to make sure we’re ready to go.”
But while two players will be waiting in the wings, Clarke was hopeful he would not need to call upon either.
“We’ve got a great physio in Alex Kountouris so he (Watson) can’t be in any better hands.
“It’s just about now trying to hope we’ve got enough days in between today and the first Test.
“Fingers crossed. He’s an important player for us and I’d imagine he’d be given every chance.”