Posted:
Clarke confident of Australia win
By Martin Gough
BBC Sport in Barbados
Clarke guided Australia to the final with 60 not out against South Africa
Aussie batsman Michael Clarke says Sri Lanka will have to produce an amazing performance if they are to clinch a shock World Cup final win on Saturday.
Clarke will play in his first final after his unbeaten 60 helped Australia beat South Africa in the last four.
"If we play the brand of cricket we're playing at the moment, as well as we did in the semi-final, we will certainly be very tough to beat.
"Sri Lanka will have to play out of their skins," said Clarke.
He showed no signs of apprehension despite the prospect of facing Sri Lanka paceman Lasith Malinga for the first time, suggesting team-mate Shaun Tait's slingy action is similar.
"We get to face Taity in the nets so I don't think there's much difference there. Malinga bowled really well in their semi-final," said Clarke.
"He seems to release the ball right in front of the umpire, which is a weird place, but we've got a lot of footage and a lot of guys have played against him so we'll be confident."
Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas - with 52 World Cup wickets between them - were all rested from the last match between the sides, which Australia won with seven overs to spare.
"I guess we were a bit disappointed playing against Sri Lanka and them not having a full-strength team.
"But they're here to win this tournament so they'll do whatever they need to do to make the final and win the final," said Clarke.
Australia have played a single match at the final venue in Barbados so far in the tournament - the fixture with Ireland that was over by lunchtime.
The wicket has been prone to some uneven bounce but Clarke was buoyed by watching the game there between West Indies and England, in which 600 runs were scored.
"It seemed like a real good wicket, pretty even bounce and carry," he continued.
"If there's a bit more bounce it will be an advantage for Australia, with our bowlers coming from conditions that are generally a bit faster than what we're playing on here.
"But the wicket looked like it spun a bit too. Whatever conditions we have we have to be able to adapt and that's been a strength of ours though this tournament."
Appearing in their fourth successive World Cup final, Australia now have the chance to go through their second tournament unbeaten and claim their third straight title.
Clarke added: "The boys are confident. We're playing really good cricket.
"For a lot of us, it's our first World Cup final so there will be some nerves there but we've waited four years for this opportunity and I know I can't wait to get out there."
Clarke guided Australia to the final with 60 not out against South Africa
😛
By Martin Gough
BBC Sport in Barbados
Clarke guided Australia to the final with 60 not out against South Africa
Aussie batsman Michael Clarke says Sri Lanka will have to produce an amazing performance if they are to clinch a shock World Cup final win on Saturday.
Clarke will play in his first final after his unbeaten 60 helped Australia beat South Africa in the last four.
"If we play the brand of cricket we're playing at the moment, as well as we did in the semi-final, we will certainly be very tough to beat.
"Sri Lanka will have to play out of their skins," said Clarke.
He showed no signs of apprehension despite the prospect of facing Sri Lanka paceman Lasith Malinga for the first time, suggesting team-mate Shaun Tait's slingy action is similar.
"We get to face Taity in the nets so I don't think there's much difference there. Malinga bowled really well in their semi-final," said Clarke.
"He seems to release the ball right in front of the umpire, which is a weird place, but we've got a lot of footage and a lot of guys have played against him so we'll be confident."
Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas - with 52 World Cup wickets between them - were all rested from the last match between the sides, which Australia won with seven overs to spare.
"I guess we were a bit disappointed playing against Sri Lanka and them not having a full-strength team.
"But they're here to win this tournament so they'll do whatever they need to do to make the final and win the final," said Clarke.
Australia have played a single match at the final venue in Barbados so far in the tournament - the fixture with Ireland that was over by lunchtime.
The wicket has been prone to some uneven bounce but Clarke was buoyed by watching the game there between West Indies and England, in which 600 runs were scored.
"It seemed like a real good wicket, pretty even bounce and carry," he continued.
"If there's a bit more bounce it will be an advantage for Australia, with our bowlers coming from conditions that are generally a bit faster than what we're playing on here.
"But the wicket looked like it spun a bit too. Whatever conditions we have we have to be able to adapt and that's been a strength of ours though this tournament."
Appearing in their fourth successive World Cup final, Australia now have the chance to go through their second tournament unbeaten and claim their third straight title.
Clarke added: "The boys are confident. We're playing really good cricket.
"For a lot of us, it's our first World Cup final so there will be some nerves there but we've waited four years for this opportunity and I know I can't wait to get out there."
Clarke guided Australia to the final with 60 not out against South Africa
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