Michael Clarke said Monday there was no ill-feeling against him as captain within the Australian cricket team and he felt "a lot of respect" from his teammates.
Michael Clarke said Monday there was no ill-feeling against him as captain within the Australian cricket team and he felt "a lot of respect" from his teammates.
Clarke has been forced to defend his public image amid reports of poor team opinions of his leadership and attitude in the wake of Sri Lanka's first-ever 2-1 one-day series victory in Australia ahead of the home Ashes Tests against England.
Clarke led Australia to a one-day international loss in India last month and lost a Twenty20 match and an ODI to Sri Lanka at home last week.
"For the stuff in the changeroom you'd have to ask the other guys, but I certainly feel the guys have shown me a lot of respect when I've had the opportunity to captain, and I've really enjoyed it," Clarke said at a sponsor's function on Monday.
"I enjoyed the other night when Ricky (Ponting) wasn't there, and I'm really enjoying being vice-captain under Ricky Ponting."
Clarke said he knew nothing of talk about rumblings in the Australian ranks.
The matter of public perception has also been raised, following unfavourable results in a weekend newspaper survey, but Clarke said he could only be who he was.
In the newspaper poll, one-day allrounder Cameron White was the preferred option with fans to take over from Ponting when he retires as Test captain.
White had 29 percent support in the poll to be the next Test skipper, while current vice-captain Clarke was preferred by 28 percent.
"Everyone is entitled to their opinion, it's important to be true to yourself, and true to who you are," said Clarke.
"People will make their judgment, but I think as a team we need to continue to work together and improve our cricket in all three forms of the game and we feel we're in a good place.
"We're all heading in the one direction and we're looking forward to the summer."
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