Champions Trophy: Aussies don’t have the fear of losing, says Michael Clarke
Former Australia captain tips India for the trophy at the launch of the Trailblazers Conclave 3.0
Australia’s awesome reputation in ICC tournaments has always been a subject of envy for other teams – and a former captain and arguably their best batter in the post-Ricky Ponting era attributes to their mindset behind the success rate. ‘’It’s not that we have always won but we don’t have the fear of losing. We have been always willing to risk losing in trying to win,’’ remarked Michael Clarke.
Answering selected media queries virtually at the media conference to launch Revsportz Tata Steel Trailblazers Conclave 3.0 on Friday, Clarke – who led the Australians to 2015 ICC World Cup – counted on his compatriots to give it a push for the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy as well as tipping them as favourites for the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June.
‘’I think it would be a India-Australia final,’’ said ‘Pup,’ as the man with filmstar looks mulled over his reply to the obvious question on his prediction about the finalists of the marquee 50-overs tournament. ‘’India are the number one ODI team in the world. The conditions in Dubai, the slow surface will suit the team which has three wonderful spinners. They have done exceptionally well to progress in the tournament without Jasprit Bumrah,’’ Clarke said, before adding in zest that India ‘will win the tournament by one run.’
It’s a below-strength Australia, the only team along with India to win the Champions Trophy twice, which ensured a last four berth on Friday after their rain-affected contest against Afghanistan had to be abandoned. ‘’I am not surprised as their batting is very much experienced, though the same cannot be said about the bowling as the trio of Starc-Cummins-Hazlewood are not there. However, this has created a lot of opportunity for others,’’ said Clarke, who would be visiting India next month as a TV pundit for IPL 2025.
Looking beyond the white ball game, how does he look at Australia’s chances of winning a back-to-back World Test Championship (WTC) where they will take on underdogs South Africa in the final at the Lord’s in June? Replying to the query from National Herald, Clarke did not hesitate to put his money on his team: ‘’I suppose it’s got to be Australia as the conditions at the Lord’s will suit them. I know South Africa have got a good attack but Australia will have their three pacers back and may be (Scot) Boland as well and Nathan Lyon – but the Proteas have done very well to come so far.’’

Now 43, Clarke has played enough international cricket against a number of the senior Indian pros – and like many of his ilk – had been a huge backer of both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Commenting on Kohli’s unbeaten 100 against Pakistan in the crunch match last Sunday, the Australian said: ‘’The hallmark of a great player is to deliver when under pressure and when the team needs him the most. I read that Virat went to nets one-and-half hours earlier than his teammates before the game – this tells you that he knows about the areas that he needs to work.’’
Clarke had a brief fling with the IPL – having been a part of the now defunct Pune Warriors in 2012. ‘’It has been amazing for the world of T20 cricket as it has revolutionised the sport, brought a lot of countries together and created friendships. I love going to India,’’ he said.
The third edition of the Revsportz Tata Steel Trailblazers Conclave, meanwhile, promises to be a bigger and better affair spread over 6-8 March in Kolkata. This year’s edition will feature a stellar collection of names like Manu Bhaker, D. Gukesh, Viswanathan Anand, Cheteshwar Pujara, Venkatesh Iyer, Ravi Ashwin, Sourav Ganguly, PR Sreejesh, Harmanpreet Singh, Mahesh Bhupathi, Sumit Antil, Paralympics gold medallist Navdeep Singh, Anju Bobby George and MC Mary Kom among others.
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