Oz players should be prepared to face Ashes axe: Clarke

FATORDA - Australia’s Test players should be prepared to lose their spots during the Ashes series as many young talents are queuing for a chance to freshen up the team, vice-captain Michael Clarke said here.

Clarke said he had no problem with the Australian selectors looking to make new additions to the Test side during the five Tests against England, and counselled his teammates to be ready for the possibility.

He said young batsmen like Phil Hughes, Usman Khawaja and Callum Ferguson are pressing hard to augment a batting line-up new selector Greg Chappell described as “ageing”.

“To me it’s about picking your best 11 players for that Test match, and conditions change as well, and I think we’re in a great position with the amount of people who are in good nick around the country, to pick that best 11,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Clarke, as saying.

“I still think it is a stage you want to be put on whether it’s your first Test or your 60th, you want to be part of the Ashes, you want to get that opportunity. I’m certain the guys who haven’t played Test cricket will be trying to score as many runs and take as many wickets as they can to push for selection, and the guys in the Test team at the moment, know we need to be at the top of our game, otherwise someone will take our spot,” he added.

“There’s always competition for spots, and I’ve openly said that you’re never cemented in the Australian cricket team. It is important for all of us once we get back to Australia, to be performing, to have runs or wickets on the board, to put your hand up for the first Test,” he said. (ANI)