Clarke aims to tame South African attack

Skipper Michael Clarke wants Australia's batsmen to blunt the vaunted South African pace attack by waging a war of attrition

The Proteas boast Test cricket’s two top-ranked bowlers — Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander — but Clarke says Australia’s best chance of dethroning the number one ranked South Africans is to wear down their strike weapons.u00a0

Clarke, who has still to decide on his own bowling attack, wants batsmen to occupy the crease for long periods to test the endurance of Steyn, and Philander.

“It’s certainly the hardest time to bat against the bowler’s first spell,” Clarke said. “The longer they are out in the field the heavier their legs become. So as a batting group we’re really keen to spend as much time out.”u00a0

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