India’s best chance to win series Down Under, says Michael Clarke
Kolkata: Indian cricket team’s regular captain Virat Kohli won’t play the one-off Test match against Afghanistan as he will be playing County cricket for Surrey during that time to prepare for the forthcoming England tour. Former Australian captain Michael Clarke is shocked with Virat’s decision and thinks that a player always should play a Test match who ever the opponent would be.
“Look I am really surprised. I don’t know that’s Virat’s choice but I am really surprised. I think a Test match is a test match. I don’t care who you are playing against, it needs to be number one priority.
“I still feel Virat can get what he wants in terms of coming and playing some games for Surrey and then I would like to see him fly back and play and Test match.”
“I think there is a bit of a gap in the schedule which will allow him to do that. I think there are some one-dayers which he would be missing for Surrey.
“My whole career I prioritised my country. I have given up every other opportunity to play for whatever franchise or other teams. To represent your country is the most special thing in the world. Whatever team you play against, I think that should be the No.1 priority,” said Michael Clarke in Kolkata today.
Though as per Clarke, Kohli will get good preparation while playing County cricket and he also lauded Kohli’s determination to do something good on the foreign soil.
“It will be fantastic preparation for him and also shows his determination. It shows not only how hungry he is to perform individually but how much he wants India to have success. Virat’s played enough cricket. He doesn’t need to do that. The fact that he is doing that, he deserves a lot of credit for that,” added Clarke.
As per Clarke India are one of the favourites to win the forthcoming 2019 ICC World Cup.
“India will go into the World Cup as one of the favourites. The experience of the players will play a part. They have some wonderful spinners. India have a very strong ODi team. They have so many match-winners. In 2015, we won the World Cup because we had match winners,” said Clarke.
Clarke thinks that it’s India’s biggest chance to win a series in Australia as they haven’t won any Test series on Australian soil. And that’s the main reason for them of not playing a day-night Test in their upcoming tour of Australia as in the evening there will be no spin, there would be moisture and a bit more movement as well.
“I think India feels like they know the conditions that will suit them best to beat Australia. Remember India has never beaten Australia ever in Australia. This is their chance. That is exactly what Virat Kohli, Ravi Shastri and all of India will be thinking. How are we going to do that? If we play during the day, the wicket is flatter, they spin a little bit more. At night there is no spin, there is moisture and bit more movement. So we prefer to take our chances during the day like we have played every other test match throughout our careers.
“I can understand why they are not wanting to play D/N test matches. But I do believe for the game, particularly in the summer of Australia, to get people watching on television we are going to see a lot of more D/N test matches moving forward and probably around the world,” added Clarke.