Oz team must focus on Lanka series to build momentum for Ashes, says Clarke

PERTH - Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke has said despite the all-important Ashes series, his team is fully focused on the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.

“I think it’s important that we do stay as focused as we possibly can on what’s in front of us,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Clarke, as saying.

“Obviously the country and the players are looking forward to the Ashes series, but it’s important we concentrate first on this Twenty20 match and the three one-dayers against Sri Lanka and build some momentum I guess leading into that first Test in Brisbane,” he added.

The 29-year-old further insisted that the he is looking forward to put in improved performances during the series in ‘home conditions’.

“It’s going to be a great series, it’s going to be a hard-fought series and I’m certainly looking forward to it. Hopefully I can get a few more runs than what I did in India,” Clarke said.

Clarke also said that last year’s 2-1 Ashes loss in England has taught the team some valuable lessons.

“I think when I look back to our last Ashes tour, it probably hit me on the head more than any other time in my career about how important an hour or a two-hour period in a Test match is,” Clarke said. (ANI)