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Clarke urges Aussies to stay grounded

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AFP Adelaide
Captain Michael Clarke today told his Australian team not to gloat after their emphatic first Ashes Test victory over England, and focus on winning again in the second match in Adelaide.

The Australians trounced the Ashes holders by 381 runs in the opening clash at the Gabba for their first Test win over England in almost three years to make the early running in the five-Test series.

Skipper Alastair Cook admitted his England side were "totally outplayed" in Brisbane, but Clarke urged his team to stay grounded heading into what is shaping up as a crucial Test in the series on Thursday.
 

England fought back to draw the opening Test of the corresponding series in Brisbane three years ago before thumping Australia by an innings and 71 runs in Adelaide and going on to take the series 3-1.

Clarke said the Australia side was a long way from being the team they wanted to be.

"I'm excited by the way we played in Brisbane. But, if you look at our results over the past 12 months, we have no reason to brag, or gloat or be over the top," he told reporters.

"We've got a lot of work to do. Every single player, their feet are well and truly on the ground.

"Our celebration after Brisbane wasn't anything like I've seen Australian teams celebrate when we've had big wins like that.

"I think that's because everybody knows we're a long way from being the team we want to be. It's only one Test win and we've got some work to do in this second Test and throughout the series."

Clarke named an unchanged team for Adelaide, the first time he has been able to do so since the corresponding match last summer against South Africa.

"We looked at the wicket and thought about the extra bowling option with James Faulkner in the team," he said.

"But having Wato (Shane Watson) there, who is back to 100 percent fit, and capable of bowling in both innings is a real positive for the team.

"We've seen through his career that his overs are crucial for this team. On good flat wickets like this wicket looks here I think his bowling is going to be very handy not just for taking wickets but also building pressure from one end.

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First Published: Dec 04 2013 | 11:56 AM IST

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