Clarke confirmed, after his team lost by an innings and 78 runs in Nottingham, that he intends to play his final Test and captain his country one last time at The Oval.
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The 33-year-old, who replaces Derbyshire’s Mark Footitt in the squad, was ruled out of England’s innings and 78-run victory at Trent Bridge after suffering from a side strain during the third test at Edgbaston. “I believe in him and I believe in the Australian team”.
“I think he thoroughly deserves to lead the team going forward”, he told Radio 5 Live’s Sportsweek.
“After every series we will sit down and review, and I think there is an opportunity for a reflection on (our) style of play”, Reuters quoted CA chief James Sutherland as saying in Melbourne.
Australia skipper Michael Clarke will fall on his sword at the end of the series, and there has been some suggestion Cook might consider following suit having made his point.
Root wants Cook to continue as captain for years to come in the wake of England winning back the urn on Saturday.
“People say, ‘Are you sure you’re not going overboard with these guys?’, but it’s fantastic the skill levels they’ve got”.
Smith’s first Test assignment will be a two-match tour of Bangladesh in October, which precedes a three-Test home series against New Zealand. As a coach and selectors we’ve got things wrong at times.
The report said Clarke had travelled by separate transport and refused to socialise with other players, that a feud between the wives of two senior players had destabilised the squad, and that the dropping of Brad Haddin had caused serious disquiet.
Lehmann said a particular mistake at Trent Bridge had been for Australia to abandon their longstanding policy of fielding five bowlers, with all-rounder Mitchell Marsh dropped to make way for older brother Shaun, a top-order batsman.
“And disappointing given we have had some significant highs including a World Cup win only just a couple of months ago”. “I had to be a less stubborn captain than in the past”.
Cook’s improved leadership of the side has been highlighted after their Ashes-sealing win and appears to have dampened theories that, whatever the result, he was pondering stepping down from the captaincy after a tumultuous 18 months in English cricket.
“I’d love to play at The Oval because it will be a joyous, celebratory occasion and I’ll do everything to try to get fit”, he said.
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“But he is making a decision that the time is right and I think his judgment is appropriate”.
