Michael Clarke still believes Australia can produce one of the most remarkable turnarounds in modern sport and regain the Ashes, writes Tom Collomosse.
If the tourists are beaten in the Third Investec Test at Old Trafford, which starts tomorrow, England will retain the urn and the Aussies will become the first side from their country since 1888 to lose seven consecutive Tests.
The captain also had to fend off questions about his future, with some Down Under speculating he may quit after this series. “I’m not retiring in the near future,” he said today. “I want to help this team have success and I want to make sure I’m leading the way and scoring runs.
“I’m 32 and not 36, so luckily I’ve got a few years before I have that discussion.”
Clarke said Australia could win the series in an interview on the pitch immediately after their defeat at Lord’s, provoking laughter and taunting from the crowd.
And he has not changed his mind in the days since, saying: “I’m confident we can turn it around, I really am.
“I’m confident we can win these next three Test matches and win the series. I know it seems a long way away to a lot of people but as a player seeing how close we got in the First Test [which England won by 14 runs] I guess it reminds us that we’re really not that far away.
“We all need to play our best and we will give it a really good go.”
Meanwhile, Aussie batsman Steve Smith was due to have tests today on a back problem.
