Monday, 9 December 2013

ASHES : 2nd TEST !!! Captain's Response...


Watson, Haddin and Clarke embrace after clinching second Ashes Test

Michael Clarke says no complacency in his side

Australia captain Michael Clarke said his team will not be complacent for the the third Ashes Test in Perth despite leading the series 2-0.

Australia won the second Test early on the fifth day when Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris collected the last four England wickets between them.

England were dismissed for 312 in the second innings, 218 runs short of the target set by Australia.

Mitchell Johnson won his second successive man of the match award after taking seven England wickets in the first innings at Adelaide.


Australia captain Michael Clarke said his side will take nothing for granted when the side heads to Perth chasing an Ashes series victory in the third Test.
Australia took a 2-0 lead in the Ashes series after winning the second Test by 218 runs early on the fifth day at the Adelaide Oval.
  
The Australian fast bowlers finished off England in less than an hour.


Once the final wicket of Panesar was claimed the Australian team went into a huddle in the middle of Adelaide Oval, no doubt reminding each other that the job is not finished.

"We backed up Brisbane and now we have to do that again in Perth, we have to back up Adelaide," Clarke told Grandstand after the second Test victory.

"No complacency is the focus for us as a team. I was really impressed with the guys' attitude after winning in Brisbane - the commitment they put into training, leading up to this Test and I'm sure Perth will be no different."

Clarke said he is not surprised by the success Australia has had in the first two Tests of the series despite losing the past three Ashes series.

"We have a very good team that is at the top of its game at the moment," he said.

"I was extremely happy with the way the boys performed over the five days both with bat and ball, and our fielding was outstanding as well."

COOK's Response after 2nd TEST

England needs a monumental effort, but still has the hunger for a scrap to retain the Ashes, captain Alastair Cook says.

Humiliated in consecutive Tests, the tourists travel to Perth for the third Test starting on Friday knowing if they lose again, they lose the Ashes.

"A lot of people ... will probably give us no chance," Cook told reporters on Monday after England's 218-run loss in the second Test in Adelaide.

"But if we believe that the urn is gone, then it might as well have gone.

"Two-nil (down) is obviously not a great situation to be in. But if you look at football games, the next goal can change it very quickly ... but it's going to take a monumental effort from us to do it."

Cook denied England, after three consecutive Ashes series wins, had lost their competitive hunger.

"When you haven't been playing well, that is one thing you start looking at, whether we do have that (hunger)," he said.

"I can only say from speaking to the guys and watching how much this is hurting, that we do.

"Only the guys will know that inside themselves but I honestly believe we have got that."

Cook also defended star batsman Kevin Pietersen from claims he was lacking motivation.

"He's a senior player and he'll be the first to hold his hand up and say some of his shot execution and selection hasn't been good enough," Cook said.

Cook himself has struggled, averaging 33.74 this series and 36.39 in the winter Ashes - returns a far cry from his average of 127 on England's 2010/11 Ashes tour of Australia.

"I need to score more runs, it's a simple deal," he said.

"There is only so many times you can keep telling the lads to do it, and if you're not delivering, it makes it harder.

"There are some very tough moments for the captain and we're in the middle of it ... it does hit you hard.

"But we're the only guys who can turn it around and obviously I've got to play a big part in that as the leader."

!!! Courtesy : http://www.abc.net.au/news !!!

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