ICC World T20
Clarke eyes clean sweep
2010-05-15 22:03
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Barbados - Australia head into the ICC World Twenty20 final against arch-rivals England at the Kensington Oval on Sunday desperate to win the lone major title that has so far eluded them.
It was at Kensington that Australia won the fourth, and third on the trot, of its World Cup trophies, three years ago when they beat Sri Lanka in a match now best remembered for being played out in farcical scenes of near total blackness after match officials misinterpreted the rules.
Until recently Australia -- who last year won the Champions Trophy in South Africa -- rather like England, have tended to regard Twenty20 as something of a sideshow.
Test skipper Ricky Ponting has now opted out of international Twenty20s while last year's first round loss under the star batsman at the World Twenty20 in England was brushed aside by coming during an Ashes tour.
However, Michael Clarke's team - which features several Twenty20 specialists - are determined to set the record straight and that, rather than the prospect of getting one over on England ahead of the Ashes series that starts in Australia in November, appears to be their main motivation.
"I'm stoked we are in the final," Clarke said on Saturday. "We have come a long way in this form of the game. But we didn't come here to make the final; we came here to win the final.
"I think we have achieved a lot as a team, but it would be extra special tomorrow to top it off with a victory. It would be fantastic.
"There's no doubt we'd be much happier leaving Barbados with that one last trophy we don't have just yet."
However, Clarke stressed victory on Sunday would be no consolation for Australia's 2-1 Ashes series loss in England last year.
"It won't make up for it, but it would be a fantastic start to what is going to be a great summer back at home," he said.
"I'm certain every Australian and every English person loves seeing that battle. It's always tough cricket, in any form of the game.
"I'm certain tomorrow will be no different. So for now, it's about focusing on a huge game - a final - against a very good team."
Australia were all but out of the tournament during Friday's semi-final against defending champions Pakistan in St Lucia yet won by three wickets thanks to a remarkable late run-spree led by Michael Hussey's boundary-laden 60 not out.
Afterwards, Clarke said the win was proof that Australia "never know when we are beaten" and the captain said his side could draw strength from that result, if required, on Sunday.
"I think we need to understand and accept that game's gone. But just keep in the back of your mind that what we showed the other day could happen out here as well.
"In our minds, we need to be very confident that we're never out of the game; we always have a chance."