Michael Clarke the Australian captain, who is set to retire after the fifth and final Ashes Test against England, said the match could be over in three days.
Clarke, who will bid adieu cricket after a devastating Ashes series defeat, said The Oval pitch is “greenest” of this series, that means seam and swing will once again rip through the Aussie batsman.
But, determined Clarke wants the leave with his head held high. So he said this time they will be at the right side of the result.
“However, this time, it simply has to be us that finishes on the right side of the scoreboard,” Clarke wrote in a column for the Sydney Daily Telegraph.
“The pitch The Oval has prepared for the fifth Test is the greenest I’ve seen this entire series, and I believe there’s every chance we could see a third consecutive match finish inside three days,” he further wrote.
“The boys know we are good enough to aim up in these conditions, but to win it’s going to take grit and dogged resilience, particularly from us as batsmen — characteristics we just weren’t able to find at Cardiff, Edgbaston and Trent Bridge.”
England has already regained the five-match Ashes series following two successive victories in Edgbaston by eight wickets at Edgbaston and an innings and 78 runs at Trent Bridge where Australia failed to cope with the seaming pitches.
Australia will have the bat at the Oval surface starting today (Thursday), where Australia’s top order must forget the nightmare of first innings 60 all out in the fourth Test at Trent Bridge behind them.
Clarke admitted that his batsmen technique is not up to mark to face the seam in the last two Tests. He said this time they have to prepare to survive from Stuart Broad and Steven Finn.
“Our batting has been so poor in the first innings of the past two Tests; we haven’t given ourselves a chance and once again we have to be prepared for the fact that surviving out there is going to be really difficult,” said Clarke.
“Technique and decision-making are obviously important, but it’s all about the character in my opinion. We need to fight as hard as we possibly can and it’s our responsibility as Australian Test cricketers to do so.”
Clarke will play his 115th Test of his career at Oval, and that will be his last.
While admitting there will be no fairy-tale ending to his career, he vowed to go out fighting.
Clarke admitted that he was hoping to go home with the Ashes, but he career is ending with nightmarish Ashes.
“But for me playing for Australia has always meant fighting to the end, even in the tough times. And with the odds stacked against us, that’s what we have the opportunity to do at The Oval,” Clarke signed off.
Quotes credit AFP