Clarke seeks respect, within and without

Michael Clarke is happy to admit he will not be completely respected as Australia's captain, within the team and without, until he can bolster his position with vital runs and major victories.

Important runs and series wins were ever present in the first part of Ricky Ponting's captaincy, but his power base began to erode from the moment the supplies of each began to thin, culminating in resignation from his post after failed Ashes and World Cup campaigns. Clarke began his tenure with a handsome enough ODI series win over Bangladesh. But he knows greater battles, and the presence he can gain by how he fights them, are yet to arrive.

"I certainly feel like I've got the support and respect as a player because I've played a lot of international cricket. For me it's about now gaining that respect as a captain and a leader and I guess the first and foremost way to do that is to have some success on the field, to get some wins," Clarke told ESPNcricinfo before his return home from Dhaka.

"Now is an opportunity for me to get home and have a really good think about what's happened over the last 12 months and where I see this team going over the next 12-24 months, and how we can set some goals and have some targets we try to achieve.

"I don't really know how the players feel, I guess they'd be happy because we got the result [in Bangladesh], we won and for me I didn't want to change too many things straight away, it was about coming here, training hard, preparing well and playing some good cricket on the filed. Now I've got this time to assess things, speak to the right people and get some guidance and some help, and assess where we're at."

Clarke's own batting is vital to the success of his leadership, and on the evidence of the summer's Ashes series he has much work to do. England's relentless line of attack around off stump left Clarke either fishing or floundering, and after nine Test matches at No.4 his average is a sick-looking 21.58, with only two half centuries.

There remains an observation of Clarke, common among former players, that his batting has lacked the knack for spinal innings in the vein of a Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh, Mark Taylor or Allan Border. He has played some attractive and determined knocks, sure, but a gap exists in his CV when it comes to match and series-defining scores. In that sense Clarke's most memorable effort remains the 151 made on his Test debut against India at Bangalore in 2004, something he must transcend as captain.
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I hope India win the WC for Sachin: Ojha

For 37-year-old Tendulkar, who has scored more than 32,000 runs and 97 centuries in international cricket, it will be in all probability his last chance to lift the Cup.

"I will follow the Indian side. My best wishes are with the team. I hope we win the Cup for Sachin paji. I pray that we do it for him. His contribution to Indian cricket is immense, with World Cup being the only missing feather from his cap," the Hyderabad spinner told PTI from Visakhapatnam.

"What can I say more about the great Sachin Tendulkar. Anything said or written about him will be very less. I will keep it with that," added Ojha, who could not make it to the 15-member World Cup squad and is currently playing in the Duleep Trophy final between North Zone and South Zone.

Emphasising that India are the firm favourites to win the trophy, the South Zone spinner said, "We are the favourites and well prepared for the tournament. We have an excellent side with the likes of Dhoni bhai, Yuvi bhai, Bhajji paji, Yusuf, Raina, and others, who can change the course of the game at any point of time."

"We have got a lot of match-winners in the side. We have some outstanding crickters and we would not have to depend on anyone in particular. The whole team is like a force. We have a great chance to win the World Cup," said the 24-year-old, adding that playing at home would also be a big advantage.

Ojha said Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Co are experienced enough to tackle the pressure situation.

"Cricket is religion in India and everyone will be following the matches. But we have matured cricketers who have been playing for quite a long time now. Everyone in the team is smart enough to tackle these pressures."

Speaking about the four-time World champions Australia, Ojha warned that the Aussies could not taken for granted despite their loss of form in the recent past.

"Australia are one of the strong contenders. They always fight back and they do it with ease, which makes them one of the title favourites," said Ojha.

He, however, added that most of the teams in this World Cup are going to be very competitive.

"Every game will be important. Sri Lanka, Australia, South Africa and Pakistan, all know the conditions well. They have good spinners who can be really effective in this tournament."

Meanwhile, praising skipper Dhoni, Ojha said: "From personal point of view, I feel he gives you freedom and space to perform. He backs you up and gets the best out of you. That's why he is so successful."

He further added that Dhoni and coach Gary Kirsten compliment each other well.

"He (Kirsten) is an outstanding coach. It's really nice to have him on board. He understands the players well, takes their feedback. I played under his coaching and he has been great."
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