World champions in Tests and one-dayers but considered duds in Twenty20, Australian skipper Michael Clarke says his side's win over Pakistan in the World Cup has shown how much it has improved in the game's shortest format in the past one year.
World champions in Tests and one-dayers but considered duds in Twenty20, Australian skipper Michael Clarke says his side's win over Pakistan in the World Cup has shown how much it has improved in the game's shortest format in the past one year.
"There's extra motivation from within the squad, we want to perform better in Twenty20 cricket then we have in general. I think our form has improved over the last 12 months and we've started really well," Clarke said after the 34-run triumph over Pakistan last night.
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"The key is going to be adapting to conditions and I think we've got a really good squad to do that," he added. Australia face Bangladesh up next and Clarke said it would be foolish to take the Tigers lightly.
"We got beaten by Zimbabwe a couple of days ago. It just shows in this form of the game, you have to be at your best, it doesn't matter who you are playing against," he said.
"We certainly won't be taking Bangladesh lightly. They've got some wonderful Twenty20 players who are very aggressive with the bat," he added.
Reflecting on the team's performance, in which all-rounder Shane Watson and David Hussey starred with knocks of 81 and 53 respectively, Clarke said the batting success made it easier for the bowlers.
"It was a very good start from the boys. Obviously our batting sets the game up there, getting 191 runs," Clarke told reporters. "The bowlers did a great job as well in the first six overs up front and we caught really well as well," he said.
Clarke said the variety in Australia's pace attack gives it the edge over other teams. "All four fast bowlers in our squad are not just four fast bowlers who just run in and bowl at the same pace, and bowl the same ball every ball," he said.
"They've got great variation, great pace and the key for those guys is their execution which they did really well," he added. Clarke feels even the spin department is strong.
"We've got two really good spinners in our squad, a couple of all-rounders and there's a couple of us average part-timers who will bowl a couple of overs here and there," said Clarke.
"I think the strength of this squad is that we have a plan B, which a lot of other teams don't have."
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