Australian cricket has hit rock-bottom but is not in crisis, acting captain Michael Clarke said after his team's Sydney Test capitulation Friday that saw them lose the Ashes series 3-1 to England.
Australian cricket has hit rock-bottom but is not in crisis, acting captain Michael Clarke said after his team's Sydney Test capitulation Friday that saw them lose the Ashes series 3-1 to England.
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The rampant tourists demoralised the home side by an innings and 83 runs for a record third innings triumph in an Ashes series and England's first series win in Australia for 24 years.
The humiliation was Australia's sixth defeat in their past eight Tests and comes at a time of major upheaval in all facets of the Australian game.
The series debacle will lead to all manner of inquisitions within the despondent Australian cricket community, but Clarke, standing in for injured incumbent Ricky Ponting, did not paint an entirely abject picture.
"Crisis? I don't think there's a crisis in Australian cricket at all," Clarke said.
"We need a lot of improvement in our game, in all areas. But I do believe we have the talent and potential in that change room to do it."
Clarke paid tribute to a complete English performance to humble Australia for their third Ashes success in the past four series.
"No doubt England have outplayed us through this series, in all facets of the game," Clarke said.
"They've showed us discipline and execution with the ball, to make the batters play a false shot.
"With the bat they've showed us how to go on and get big scores once you get a start.
"Throughout this series we've been extremely inconsistent. Certain guys have been able to take five-wicket hauls or make a century, but certainly not enough to win a big series."
Clarke presaged a wide-ranging inquest into the sorry state of Australian cricket when he admitted it had hit 'rock-bottom.'
"This is probably as close to rock-bottom as it gets," he said.
"The Australian public and fans can certainly only see us going forward.
"As players we feel disappointment right now, but we do see potential.
"We think we are better cricketers than what we have shown. We have no excuses.
"Certainly, the Cricket Australia board and selectors will discuss the result of this series. Every individual sits in the same shoes. We haven't performed as well as we need to."
Clarke said personally the series outcome was the lowest point in his career.
"Probably. Unfortunately, I've lost a few Ashes series now and they're all pretty bad," he said.
"But being the vice-captain of the Australian team, and having such a disappointing series with the bat, it probably is."
Clarke said in any Cricket Australia review of the series, he would emphasise that the Australian team has the talent.
"I'll make it very clear I think there's a lot of talent in that change room," he said.
"I don't think it's about dropping a number of players and giving new guys that opportunity straight away."
"We've got to get more consistent. We've got to become better players, we've got to become a better team," he added.
"We have no one to blame. You have to look at yourself, first and foremost.
"You need to work out where you can get better. You need to start that process today."
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