The critics might be pronouncing an end to Australia's domination in Test cricket but Michael Clarke has refused to believe that the balance of power has shifted to India.
MELBOURNE: The critics might be pronouncing an end to Australia's domination in Test cricket following their Mohali debacle but vice-captain Michael Clarke has refused to believe that the balance of power has shifted to India.
Australia have lost two (in Perth and Mohali) and drawn as many in their last four matches against India but Clarke said this was not a sign that India has changed the balance of power.
"I would disagree with that," Clarke said.
The Australians are trailing 0-1 in the four-match Test after suffering their worst Test defeat in Mohali by 320 runs, but Clarke was optimist that his team would bounce back and win the New Delhi Test starting October 29.
"It's not the first Test match I have lost, and I guarantee it won't be the last, but I know our mindset will be exactly the same as it was at the start of this game. We're going into Delhi to win the Test match.
"After the first Test when we had a draw, I remember getting on the bus and 'Punter' (Ricky Ponting) said to Peter Siddle, 'Mate you won't see too many results like that in this team.' It is so true. We win. We want to win every game we play.
"We are going to do everything in our power to make sure this Test in Delhi, we win. But we need to control the little things first," he was quoted as saying by the 'Sydney Morning Herald'.
Clarke also said that a break will help his team rejuvenate nicely.
"A couple of days off will help. To leave the bat and ball in the bag for a while will be great ... there's enough experience in our team to know things can turn around quickly in India."
Clarke also said his side would not be intimidated by India's on-field aggression.
Zaheer Khan had shouted at Matthew Hayden after he fell to Harbhajan Singh and the Indian pacer had to lose a big part of his match-fee for violating the ICC code of conduct.
"I don't even know if he knows exactly what was said by Zaheer Khan when he got out but it was some form of send-off," Clarke said.
"Honestly, that sort of stuff doesn't really bother me. Even with Gambhir, he was trying to talk and I said, 'Mate, I'm not even listening to you, so whatever you're saying you might as well talk to Dhoni because you're honestly wasting your breath talking to me'."
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