SYDNEY: Captain Michael Clarke is fed up with Australia’s slide down cricket’s world rankings and has demanded his team begin to turn things around during matches in the UAE.
“(It’s up to us) to realise we sit fourth in the one-day rankings, third in the Test rankings and eighth or ninth in the Twenty20 rankings,” Clarke told reporters on Tuesday before limited-over games against Afghanistan and Pakistan.
“Every player knows that it’s unacceptable for an Australian team to sit there, but that’s easy to say; it’s about what we do.”
Clarke said much had been said about the performances of his team, but the time for talking was now over and it was up to individuals to take responsibility for results.
Australia face Afghanistan in an ODI in Sharjah on Saturday before three ODIs and three T20s against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
They then head to Sri Lanka for next month’s World Twenty20 – the one major title that has eluded them. (Reuters)