Time is quickly running out for Michael Clarke to have an impact in the two-Test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.
Five runs in the first Test in Dubai, followed by a quick turnaround before the second Test starts in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, leaves the master batsman with little option but to slog away in the nets.
“I’ve always loved the challenge of facing spin bowling,” Clarke said after he was out lbw to legspinner Yasir Shah for three in Australia’s second innings on Saturday.
“I’ve been out twice to spin bowling in this Test match.”
Clarke scored a hundred in his previous Test, against South Africa in Cape Town in March.
But a hamstring injury meant the 33-year-old stayed on the sidelines for Australia’s one-day series against Pakistan in the UAE earlier this month.
And his innings of 10 and five in the four-day tour match against Pakistan A in Sharjah didn’t add up to valuable “time in the middle”, which is what every batsman craves.
“I read somewhere the other day that I’m short of match practice and that probably sums my form up at the moment,” the 106-Test veteran said.
“In the last Test match I played I scored a big hundred for Australia.
“It has been seven months since our last Test match and I’ve only played one one-dayer in between that time.
“That doesn’t make it easier.
“There’s no time between now and the second Test match so I have just got to keep working my backside off in the nets and then when I get another opportunity I need to make sure I bat for as long as I can.
“I need to contribute more.
“That’s always been my goal as the Australian cricket captain, to make sure I’m leading from the front and scoring plenty of runs.
“I’ll probably be in the gym tonight, training and making sure I’m fit and healthy, get back into the nets tomorrow and do some work on my batting.”
MICHAEL CLARKE’S TEST PERFORMANCES IN 2014
* Matches: 5
* Runs: 242 at 30.25 including 1 hundred
* Highest score: 161 not out
CAREER FIGURES
* Matches: 106
* Runs: 8245 at 50.89 including 27 hundreds
* Highest score: 329 not out.
