Michael Clarke's decision to step down as selector key to Australia's recent success: Rod Marsh

Melbourne: New Australian chairman of selectors Rod Marsh has said that Australia's recent improvement on the cricket field must primarily be attributed to skipper Michael Clarke's key decision to step down as a selector last year, as also to the contribution of Coach Darren Lehmann and left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson "bowling like the wind".

News.com.ao quoted Marsh, as saying that Clarke's off-field leadership has gone to another level after relinquishing the responsibility of selection midway through last year.

Marsh was appointed as chairman of selectors at a Cricket Australia board meeting in Melbourne on Friday. Mark Waugh and Trevor Hohns have replaced Inverarity and Andy Bichel on the four-man panel, while coach Darren Lehmann remains.

Australia has just regained the number one Test ranking after almost five years but it has been done to a significant extent on the back of recalled senior players such as Johnson, Ryan Harris, Brad Haddin and Chris Rogers, who are in their mid-30s.

However Marsh did not believe this was a concern,as the players work very hard on their fitness etc.

Marsh claimed Australia's biggest challenge was to remain number one in Test and one-day cricket and get there in Twenty20 cricket as well.