“2013 is the year of the Australian cricket team.”
That’s not the latest Cricket Australia publicity catch-cry, it’s the bold prediction of Test captain Michael Clarke.
India and back-to-back Ashes series are looming ominously for a new Australian team that doesn’t yet know itself.
Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey have retired and unanswered selection conundrums far outweigh the players who are set in concrete.
But despite how shaky things might look, Clarke warned India and England that his charges are ready for the challenge.
The skipper will waste no time in getting down to business.
Clarke has been nursing a hamstring problem, but instead of taking an extended break, he says he’s determined to be back on deck after one-day matches on January 11-13.
“I think this one-day series both against Sri Lanka and West Indies are really important for the team. Then there’s a tough trip to India before the Ashes. It’s exciting and I’m looking forward to it,” Clarke said.
“We know we’ve got some work to do but we’re up for the challenge.”
Clarke said the team took plenty from the South Africa series loss, but realises there’s too much of a gap between their best and worst.
Australia swept Sri Lanka, but in Sydney they did nothing to hide their obvious vulnerabilities, particularly in the batting line-up.
“I think what you’ve seen of the Australian cricket team this summer sums up where we’re at. On our good days we’re very good and we can cut it with the best – the No.1 team in the world in South Africa,” said Clarke.
“But on our poor days there’s a lot of areas we need to improve both individually and as a team.
“I think we are improving slowly as a group. But we know the next 12 months is huge for us.”