Australian captain Michael Clarke has warned his underperforming batsmen not to expect any charity in the remaining England tour, saying that those who do not perform will be discarded.
According to News.com.au, of the eight batsmen used by Australia in this series only two, Clarke and Chris Rogers, have averaged more than 30, followed by injured fast bowler James Pattinson (36) and dropped teenaged spinner Ashton Agar (33).
Stating that the tour is not about giving players a go and hoping for the best, Clarke said that although the selectors are doing everything in their power to help Australia win and trying to as consistent as they, however, they are helpless and have to drop players if they are not performing as it is necessary to win the game.
According to Clarke, all the selectors can do is pick what they feel is the best XI, adding he admitted that their batting has let down the team throughout the series given that it is upto them as players to do their job.
Clarke further said that cricket is like any sport at the highest level, adding that his team's players are realists and understands that if they are not performing, then there is a chance that they would be dropped.
To emphasise the importance of taking something tangible out of this tour and creating momentum going into the return Ashes during the Australian summer, Clarke called his senior players together during training for an impromptu meeting, saying that it is necessary for the senior players to leading from the front
Seeming happy with the pitch at The Oval, Clarke said that he believed that it is going to be a good wicket for the first couple of days, adding that reverse swing and spin will play a part at the back end of the Test match.
