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Michael Clarke knows he must improve his Twenty20 credentials if he is to be the long-term leader of the side. Clarke has taken over full-time from Ricky Ponting, who retired from the format last year, but is already under pressure in the role with a rise in support for the big-hitting Cameron White.

Clarke is a more traditional player and has a highest score of 37 in 19 internationals, batting anywhere from opener to No.7. He will walk out at No.3 in Friday’s match against Pakistan at the MCG with personal and team concerns to consider.

“I feel like I’ve got a lot of improvement in me in all forms of the game,” he told AAP. “I’ve batted 15 times in Twenty20 cricket and a fair bit of that was at No.7 during that first World (Twenty20). For me personally, I’m looking to learn as much as I can about the game but in saying that, also be successful.”

Clarke will not try to position himself as a power striker to prove his worth. “It’s no sense me trying to hit every ball for six because that is not how I play my best cricket,” he said in the Australian. “I feel like I’ve got a lot of improvement in me in all forms of the game.”

He is not worried about the view of Mark Waugh, who thinks White should be captain and Clarke should rest his degenerative back condition whenever Twenty20 games are played. “He is not the only one to say it and everyone is entitled to their opinion,” Clarke said. “I have been open and honest and said my performances in this form of the game have not been as good as I would have liked from the opportunities I have had.”
Source:Cricket News

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