Australian skipper Michael Clarke, battling to regain fitness from hamstring surgery and chronic back pain, said Monday he would be prepared to play under the captaincy of young gun Steve Smith. Amid reports that the team prefer the stand-skipper who has had a sensational summer at the crease ahead of the World Cup, Clarke insisted his relationship with his team-mates was exceptional.
And asked on Triple M radio if he would play under Smith’s leadership, the 33-year-old replied: ‘Most definitely I would.’
Clarke said he had already been in Smith’s position himself.
‘I feel for Smithy because I sat in his shoes when a lot of the media were calling for (former captain) Ricky Ponting (to go).
‘It’s certainly not personal between Smithy and I. We’ve been friends for a long time and we’ll continue to be.’
‘The people that sit above both him and I will make their decisions,’ Clarke said.
‘Whatever they feel are the best 11 players, they will pick that 11.
‘Whoever they feel is the best captain for the team then they’ll pick that.’
-With New Age input
