Of ramzan and tape ball cricket

Cricket fanatics it is that time of the year when the passion for the game touches its zenith, the time when the fans get to play the game, the time when the fever for cricket especially in the night hits an all-time high! The month of Ramazan is, as always set to be nothing less than a sporting carnival all across the country; youngsters are eager to drive home their passion for football, volleyball and carom amongst others and of course the game of glorious uncertainties, one we all are in love with.

While there are numerous tournaments with the actual cricket ball all across the country, there remains one variety that is popular with almost every Pakistani, tape ball cricket; legend has it that taping a tennis ball was introduced to Karachi some three decades ago.

The transition from tennis to tape tennis ball came around the time the Kerry Packer revolution hit international cricket, the introduction of white balls, coloured clothing, black sight screens and floodlit cricket brought a new dimension and thrill. While closer to home, tape ball generated a new interest in players and fans alike.

In the earlier days, the areas of Nazimabad, Malir, and PNT Colony were the bases of tape ball cricket, the drama gripped every one in these localities and soon tournaments started taking place in Ramazan. Nazimabad had the best tape ball talent of the country; teams like Bombay Town, Nazimabad Town and Metroville dominated as the leading outfits of the area.

Amongst themselves they were fiercely competitive, with the batsmen and bowlers fighting tooth and nail till the end. In areas like PNT Colony near Gizri, young and old were hooked onto the game, the biggest thrill for them was the low cost of playing. The most popular brand of tape in the early days was ‘Nito’ available for as low as five rupees in many colours, of which the more popular have always been red and white.

A player of the PNT area Nadir, now in his 40′s recalls a typical match at the PNT Ground, “In the 80s we had a great team; our battles with the Nazimabad outfits were always intriguing and exciting. In Ramazan it used to be nothing less than a carnival, while normally as soon as afternoon sat-in we started playing. Our ground was flocked by area residents, even the elderly used to be glued to the action. Most of them used to have a cigarette in one hand, with the other hand gesturing at the players and we were often greeted by a hurl of abuses every time we failed to live up to their expectations”.

Interestingly, tape ball cricket has also remained immensely popular in the posh areas of Karachi; youngsters from affluent backgrounds have also been playing the game for ever! In the 80s and 90s, tape teenaged boys were seen playing almost every where in Defence and Clifton, one such player was Ilyas Bashir.

He recalls that the evenings back then were spent playing cricket with the sole emphasis being on making the best of the short two-hour window after school and tuition hours. “Our parents used to allow us only two hours to play, tape ball cricket was the best way to spend those hours. The players used to contribute in buying the equipment and were often banished from an area after shattering a neighbour’s window. In Ramazan we held tournaments, but were often sent packing in the first round as better teams from other areas whipped us with consummate ease”.

So here is what makes tape ball cricket compelling; generally an electrical tape is wrapped on a tennis ball; this way the ball hardens and swings, seams and spins like a proper cricket ball besides traveling faster and longer off the bat.

The ‘ground’ is often a street, a narrow passage in a neighbourhood or if one is lucky, an open field with boundaries. A tape ball match is generally of 8-12 overs which means that everything takes place at frenetic speed, be it the search for runs or wickets. The pitch is around 18 meters, supporters of both teams are glued to the action as they place themselves in close proximity to the pitch, yelling and shouting as they guide the men in the middle. Batsmen generally enjoy the tape ball as it travels a long way and at times even a half decent connection clears the boundary.

On the other hand, a bowler who can bowl at a genuine pace loves the challenge of stifling the willow wielders; the aim is to bowl at the batsman’s feet, yorker after yorker or deceive him with a slower ball or a ‘finger’. The drama is pulsating for players and spectators alike.
Cricketing experts and former players have varying opinions on the merits of tape ball cricket especially for youngsters who want to make an impression in regular cricket.

The current head of the national selection committee Mohsin Khan who played 48 tests for Pakistan thinks that tape ball is meant for fun only and should not be taken seriously by professional cricketers. “Tape ball is pure entertainment, however it can have an adverse affect on the technique of the batsmen as the challenges posed by a cricket ball are totally different to a taped one, professional cricketers can have the odd indulgence especially during Ramazan, however they should not play this version regularly”.

He recalled that the national team used to practice with a wet tennis ball before tours of the West Indies and Australia in a bid to cope with the pace and bounce on the wickets there, “We used to soak tennis balls in water and play on cement wickets, this way the batsmen learnt to cope with the pace and bounce abroad, the practice paid rich dividends,” Mohsin stated.

Pakistan’s leading test spinner Danish Kaneria also had a passion for tape ball cricket in his early days, “I used to love playing cricket and tape ball was what I was introduced to first, I remember making a big impact for the Don Bosco club during a tournament played at the St. Patrick Cathedral, Karachi in 1996. I bowled a leg-spin in that event and my performance made me believe in my ability and helped me pursue my cricketing ambitions”. Kaneria revealed that his coach stopped him from bowling with a tape ball at that juncture; he felt that the softer, smaller ball would make it tough for his pupil to master the hard cricket ball. Most Pakistani fast bowlers who give batsmen a run for their money, have famously honed their skills on the streets playing tape ball.

Another Pakistani quick who is aiming to follow in their footsteps is left-armer Sohail Tanvir, the lanky southpaw is also a decent batsman. Like his predecessors, Sohail first took up tape ball cricket. He stole the show in a tournament held in Gujranwala some six years ago, Sohail recalls that he dazzled with both bat and ball and led his team to victory in the event, even pocketing the Man of the Tournament Award.

I ran into the then Pakistan captain Moin Khan in a tape ball match in 2000, I was the proud opening bowler of my team and my first over was taken for 20 runs; the experience was miserable for an average yet passionate tape ball bowler, never mind though, the thrill must never stop.

news covered by dawn sports

Wasim akram should get his facts right before making statement: Mohsin

Chief selector Mohsin Hasan Khan on Tuesday said that former captain Wasim Akram had no business to make half-baked statements about matters like national team selection, and advised him to spare some time to know more about the policies of the selectors instead of criticising them without much sense and knowledge.

Replying to Wasim’s recent criticism of the selectors’ decision to rest Umar Gul and Wahab Riaz for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe, Mohsin said: “I was surprised and disappointed over Wasim’s criticism of the selectors over resting some players.

I know that Wasim is very busy with his commitments abroad, but it is very unfair that he comes back to the country after three or four months and without knowing the facts, give statements about the team, about the players and the policy, which can be very damaging.”

“A player of his calibre should realise that such statements can spoil the team spirit and create misunderstanding between the players and the management,” said Mohsin while talking to Dawn on Tuesday.

Mohsin, obviously miffed at Wasim’s comments about the need of consistency in the matters of selection, added: “As far as Wasim’s comments on the consistency in selection are concerned, let me tell him that selection committee knows its job much better than what he thinks.”

“I treat Wasim like my younger brother and undoubtedly he is one of the finest cricketers Pakistan has produced, but if he is so much concerned for Pakistan cricket, then he should be serving our cricket rather than other countries in different capacities,” said Mohsin, a veteran of 48 Tests and 75 ODIs.

“I know he has been approached by the PCB in the past to come and serve Pakistan cricket, but he could not spare time for this national cause,” he recalled.

“I think Wasim does not understand that we have adopted a certain policy to form a solid combination of senior and younger players for the future and this tour of Zimbabwe is the best opportunity for us to try out this combination.”

The chief selector pointed out that Wasim was quite off the mark when insisting on the inclusion of Umar Gul and Wahab and said that the two pacers along with left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman had been involved in all forms of cricket since last one-and-a-half years and, therefore, it was the appropriate time to give them some rest.

“This is an ideal series to rest them and test some budding youngsters since there will be much tougher assignments against Sri Lanka and England ahead and the selectors feel that they will not have any better chance to groom the back up players than against Zimbabwe,” reasoned Mohsin, known as the Lord’s hero for his dazzling double hundred in the 1982 series.

“In order to build a nice, balanced combination with a back up for the future, we are trying to utilise this tour of Zimbabwe because after this tour there are two very tough series ahead,” he said.

“I have no fear or reservations in trying out any young or talented player because I have full support of the PCB on this policy,” emphasised Mohsin.

“I am trying my level best to serve Pakistan cricket because Allah has given me a lot of honour and respect by playing for Pakistan,” said the former opener.

“I played my cricket for Pakistan with courage and honour and strongly believe that for every big achievement, you have to be brave enough to take a calculated risk,” said Mohsin.

When reminded that both Umar and Wahab were still playing county cricket and not exactly taking rest, Mohsin said that the PCB had instructed them not to play the longer version in the county championship and, secondly, there was a huge difference between the demands of county and international cricket.

Mohsin insisted that as chief selector he was constantly in touch with his cricketers, both at home and abroad, and he and his entire selection committee knew it fully well where and when the players could play or rest.

news covered by dawn sports

India face to another tough task as England eye top spot

England head into the third Test against India at Edgbaston here on Wednesday knowing another victory will give then both an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the four-match series and see them replace their opponents at the top of the ICC’s Test Championship table.

India, beset by injuries, have rarely had their best team on the field and came straight into the series on the back of a tour of the Caribbean with just one practice match in English conditions.

What cannot be denied is Strauss’s men have played some excellent cricket during a 196-run first Test win at Lord’s that was followed by an even more emphatic 319-run success at Trent Bridge.

Their bowlers have prevented the much-vaunted Indian batting line-up, albeit one where dynamic opener Virender Sehwag has only just joined the squad following shoulder surgery, from once getting to 300 in four innings.

Meanwhile England’s batting depth has proved too much for an India attack where left-arm quick Zaheer Khan’s series came to an end midway through his 14th over at Lord’s.

“It’s a mental thing as well because for some of us it’s been a seven-match Test series with hardly any gap,” admitted India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the wicketkeeper/batsman, who looked close to both physical and mental exhaustion at Trent Bridge.

Medium-pacer Praveen Kumar has done his best to shoulder a heavy workload but with off-spinner Harbhajan Singh breaking down with a series-ending stomach injury at Trent Bridge, recalled England seamer Tim Bresnan made 90 batting at No 8 before taking a Test-best five for 44 with the ball.

Bresnan was only playing at Trent Bridge because of the hamstring and back problems that again has sidelined fast bowler Chris Tremlett from appearing at Edgbaston as well.

Yuvraj was subsequently ruled out of the rest of the series with a broken finger.

India have called up spinner Pragyan Ojha and batsman Virat Kohli as cover for Harbhajan and Yuvraj respectively while R.P. Singh, a like-for-like replacement, recently joined the squad in Zaheer’s absence.

Few England fans at Edgbaston, would begrudge seeing India great Sachin Tendulkar become the first batsman to score 100 international hundreds.

Tendulkar’s already stellar reputation, and indeed that of the India team as a whole, may well have gone up a few notches after it emerged he played a key role in helping persuade his side to withdraw their second Test run-out appeal against Ian Bell when the batsman mistakenly assumed the ball was dead.

Trott’s injury has paved the way for a Test return for Ravi Bopara, the man whose lack of form against Australia two years ago cleared a path for his South Africa-born rival to score a hundred on debut in the 2009 Ashes finale.

England, under coach Andy Flower, have stuck to a policy of playing six specialist batsmen. That means Bopara and Eoin Morgan could both yet play at Edgbaston despite the all-round form of Bresnan and fellow seamer Stuart Broad, who took a hat-trick at Trent Bridge as well as scoring valuable runs.

Teams (from):
ENGLAND: Andrew Strauss (captain), Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Ravi Bopara, Steven Finn.

INDIA: Abhinav Mukund, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Suresh Raina, Vangipurappu Laxman, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virat Kohli, Pragyan Ojha, Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma, R.P. Singh, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Amit Mishra, Munaf Patel, Wriddhiman Saha.

Umpires: Simon Taufel and Steve Davis (both Australia).
TV umpire: Rod Tucker (Australia).
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka).—

news covered by the news

PCB, Misbah keen to groom younger player as vice-captain

 The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is in a quandary over finding a suitable candidate for the post of vice-captain for Pakistan team’s tour of Zimbabwe scheduled later this month.

The importance of appointing a vice-captain was felt after a non-cricketer Naveed Akram Cheema was named as the manager of the national team in place of former Test captain Intikhab Alam.

An important meeting was held in the PCB on Thursday to decide the next vice-captain as well as finalising the team management for the tour.

Though the tour of Zimbabwe is a low-profile assignment and can be completed without a vice-captain, the PCB deems it appropriate to have a vice-captain in order to complete the quorum for the tour selection committee.

First three options for the post of Misbah-ul-Haq’s deputy appear to be Mohammad Hafeez, Taufiq Umar and Imran Farhat.

However, since none of the three are exactly ‘young’ cricketers and cannot be groomed as future captain, the PCB may look for some other candidate to fulfil its long-term planning.

Moreover, sources said captain Misbah was ken to have a junior player groomed as his deputy in Test cricket and may prefer talented Azhar Ali for the vice-captain’s post.

Furthermore, Hafeez’s performance has not been exemplary, especially in the Test matches, and he has only cemented his place in the One-day team, mainly because of his utility as an all-rounder.

In the last six months, Hafeez has played four Test matches and in the eight innings he has scored just 88 runs at the average 12.57. In ODIs, he has played 21 matches in the same period and has accumulated 700 runs at 36.84 averages besides claiming 19 wickets at the average 27.21.

Taufiq, however, has fared better. He has played 31 Tests scoring 2167 at the averages 39.40 while Imran Farhat is the most experienced among the three with 39 Test to his credit, scoring 2327 at the average 31.87.

A PCB official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Dawn that in the past some incidents involving Hafeez had not gone down well with the PCB.

news covered by the news

India's Dravid makes surprise ODI comeback

 Rahul Dravid on Saturday was recalled to the Indian squad for next month’s one-day series against England, while injured Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh were left out.

Middle-order batsman Dravid played his last one-dayer in September 2009, but got the selectors’ nod following his impressive performances in the ongoing four-Test series in England.

The 38-year-old, who has scored 10,765 runs in 339 one-day internationals with 12 centuries, is the most successful Indian batsman on the tour with two hundreds in the opening two Tests.

India will play a one-off Twenty20 match against England at Old Trafford on August 31 before the five-match one-day series starts at Chester-le-Street on September 3.

Off-spinner Harbhajan (abdominal strain) and all-rounder Yuvraj (finger injury) were not part of the limited-overs squad, to be led by World Cup-winning captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

The duo have already been ruled out of the remaining two Tests of the four-match series due to injuries, suffered during the second Test at Trent Bridge.

The Indian cricket board on Wednesday said in a statement that Yuvraj’s injury could take around four weeks to mend, while Harbhajan was likely to recover in three weeks’ time.

They were replaced by left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha and middle-order batsman Virat Kohli. India currently trail 2-0 in the Test series.

Middle-order batsman Rohit Sharma, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, paceman Vinay Kumar and wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel, who are not part of the Test squad, returned for one-dayers.

India twenty20 and one-day squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag (vice-capt), Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Zaheer Khan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel, Ishant Sharma, Vinay Kumar, Amit Mishra, Parthiv Patel

news covered by the news

India playing like schoolboys' teams: Gavasker

 Batting great Sunil Gavaskar on Thursday blamed poor technique for India’s dismal show in the Test series in England, saying the tourists looked like a ‘schoolboys’ team’.

“India were totally outplayed by England in the second Test so much so that it looked like a contest between a professional team and a schoolboys team,” the former opener wrote in The Hindu newspaper. “The batting has failed to get to 300 in four innings and the bowling in both Tests has faded away after a bright beginning.”

India trail 2-0 in the four-Test series following a 196-run defeat in the first match at Lord’s and a 319-run loss in the second at Trent Bridge.

Drawn games in the last two matches will enable England to dethrone Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s Indians as the top-ranked Test team.

“India’s lower order is just not technically good enough, and if a player knows he is technically struggling then mentally too he stops fighting,” wrote Gavaskar, the first batsman to score 10,000 Test runs.

“Not that the top order has shown any great technique, especially the youngsters who plunder millions of runs on Indian pitches getting onto the front foot and then suddenly find that when it comes to overseas pitches and the quicker bowlers, they just don’t know how to play off the back foot.”

Rahul Dravid has looked the best Indian batsman on the tour with two hundreds, while Vangipurappu Laxman has made two half-centuries and Sachin Tendulkar one.

“The guys scoring the runs are those who have honed their technique on the longer version of the game,” Gavaskar wrote.

“Those others who are destroyers of bowling where the ball does not come above the waist are finding how tough Test cricket is.

“There will be talk about preparation etc, but even if this Indian team had played five first-class games before the Test series they would have struggled as the technique is not there.”

India played just one warm-up match before the Test series

news covered by dawn sports

Visa applications for pakistani fans to be processed swiftly

Visa applications of Pakistani fans wishing to visit London for next year’s Olympic Games will be processed speedily, a British High Commission official said on Thursday.

“We have a very excellent visa processing system. Anyone who wishes to witness the Games and applies for visa after fulfilling the pre-requisites it would be a very speedy process,” Britain’s Deputy High Commissioner Dr Peter Tibber told Dawn while highlighting the arrangements being made to hold Olympic Games successfully.

Dr Tibber suggested Pakistan’s fans, intending to attend London Olympics, to apply for visa three months in advance.

However, at High Commission media official said: “Even if anyone fails to purchase a ticket it should not be a worry for them because giant screens would also be installed at different parks and localities across London where the sports lovers could enjoy any sport.”

Meanwhile, praising Pakistan’s hockey team, Dr Tibber wished they win the silver medal in London.

“I know Pakistan’s hockey team looks very good but still we hope Great Britain win the gold medal [in hockey],” he stated.

Pakistan, whose lone medal hope is hockey – also their national game, have already qualified for the Olympics after winning the gold medal in the Asian Games at Guangzhou, China last year.

Pakistan may also get a few wild card entries for the London extravaganza in athletics, shooting and swimming. Pakistan may also get places in rowing, wrestling, weightlifting and boxing if they win Asian qualifiers for the Olympics.

Dr Tibber further said Britain’s economy was set for revival with the Olympic Games.

“Definitely, there will be an economic revival with the 2012 Olympics. The Games are being held in the east of London [a poor neighbourhood of the city] and most of the venues are being developed there for which a comprehensive communication system was also being established,” said Dr Tibber, adding all this would give a huge boost to the British economy.

Britain with the 2012 Games will become the only country in the world to have hosted the Olympics — world’s biggest sporting show — for the third time. Britain also hosted the Olympic Games back in 1908 and 1948.

“We are developing the Olympic structures with an aim to maintain a legacy,” he said, adding most of the Olympics structures are nearing completion.

Dr Tibber said along with Olympic Games preparations his government was also running an international inspiration programme for the youth.

The programme aims to use the power of physical education, sport and play to enrich the lives of millions of children and young people of all abilities.

According to London Olympic Games Committee some four billion people would watch the Games opening ceremony on
television.

news covered by dawn sports

India look towards sehwag to lift morale

 Former India players are united in their belief that Virender Sehwag’s return from injury will stabilise the team’s fragile batting order and lift morale in the remaining two tests against a dominant England.

The dashing opener has been sidelined since undergoing shoulder surgery in May, keeping the 32-year-old out of the tour of the West Indies and India’s first two tests against England.

India, 2-0 down in the four-match series, had looked nothing like the world’s number one-ranked team in the Lord’s and Trent Bridge tests but that could change with the return of the explosive right-hander, according to Anshuman Gaekwad.

“It is almost going to be like a new series. To have Sehwag and (Gautam) Gambhir back… It will give a lot of confidence to the team,” the former India international and coach told Reuters.

Sehwag’s opening partner Gambhir injured his elbow while fielding at Lord’s and missed the 319-run defeat at Trent Bridge but is likely to return to the starting lineup for the third test beginning on Aug. 10 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

The injuries to the top order forced India to tinker with the batting lineup, placing Rahul Dravid in a makeshift opener’s role and Vangipurappu Laxman up the order at number three.

“In a test match, it is of utmost necessity to have a good start. Their return will be a big relief for the captain and the team,” emphasised the former India opener, who played 40 test matches from 1975-85.

Sehwag has 22 hundreds in 87 test appearances but it his strike rate of almost 82 runs per 100 deliveries that make him one of the most intimidating batsmen in cricket.

Former captain Ajit Wadekar said Sehwag’s return would ease the pressure on India’s “Big Three” — Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Laxman.

“Sehwag coming back itself is enough to boost the morale of the team. We never had a solid opening partnership in the series,” Wadekar, the former chief of national selectors, said by phone.

“If our openers do their bit, batsmen down the order will start gaining in confidence.”

MATCH PRACTICE

Sehwag’s audacious strokeplay might be the ideal counter-attacking ploy the team needed to recover from the heavy defeats and avoid a two-clear test series defeat that would enable England to leapfrog India at the top of the rankings.
“The opposition bowlers also get disheartened by Sehwag’s presence,” the 70-year old Wadekar said.

India will play a two-day tour game against Northamptonshire starting on Friday and it will be Sehwag’s only chance to acclimatise himself to the conditions before the third test starts on Aug. 10.

“I don’t know how much practice he will get. He has been out for so long after the injury. Hope he acclimatises quickly with the conditions there,” Wadekar, who led India to series victories in West Indies and England in 1971, said.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly also doubted whether Sehwag had enough time to get match fit.

“It has to be seen whether the dynamic opener has had enough cricket or whether the Northants game is enough to get him ready for Birmingham,” Ganguly wrote in a column which was published in the Hindustan Times on Thursday.

news covered by dawn sports

Aaqib removed as assistant coach for zimbabwe tour

Former Test fast bowler Aaqib Javed was removed as Pakistan’s assistant coach for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday announced the team management for the tour.

Assistant manager Shahid Aslam could also not retain his position. In his place, the PCB has named Col Wasim Ahmed as security manager with the additional charge of assistant manager for the Zimbabwe tour starting from Aug 26.

While a PCB press release issued on Thursday contained the messages about outgoing and incoming manager of the squad, the statement did not give any reason about Aaqib’s exclusion from the team management.

However, sources told Dawn that former limited-overs skipper Shahid Afridi was a big supporter of Aaqib as part of the team management. But now as Afridi has announced retirement from international cricket and that too after developing differences with the PCB management, it was difficult for Aaqib to retain his post.

No replacement was announced in place of Aaqib. Meanwhile, chairman PCB Ijaz Butt issued a statement, thanking former team manager Intikhab Alam for his role. Intikhab and new manager Naveed Akram Cheema also issued statements.

The PCB chief in his statement said: “Intikhab has done a commendable job as national team manager. His experience as a cricketer and cricket administrator is always a great help. As the director game development he is needed in Pakistan to execute the game development plans.”

Intikhab said: “I am thankful to PCB management for trusting me with responsibilities of team manager in the past. “While I enjoyed working as the team manager, I feel that I now need to dedicate more time to the academies programme which we have restarted after some years. I wish my successor Naveed all the best in his new assignment,” Intikhab added.

Meanwhile, Naveed said: “I am grateful for the confidence reposed in me by the PCB. I will be seeking advice from my predecessor Intikhab Alam. Our collective aim is to ensure that the team do well on the tour and that there is harmony and unity among the squad members.”

Team management:
Naveed Akram Cheema (manager), Waqar Younis (coach), Col. Wasim Ahmed (security/assistant manager), Dr Sohail Saleem (doctor-cum-physio), Saboor Ahmed (trainer), Umar Farooq (analyst), Mohammad Akhtar (masseur).

news covered by dawn sports

Rise to the top will not be over night: Clarke

 Australia’s journey back up the test world rankings is not going to happen overnight but the upcoming series in Sri Lanka will be an indication of their current status, captain Michael Clarke said on Thursday.

Australia are fifth in the rankings after the humiliating Ashes defeat at the turn of the year and take on the fourth-placed Sri Lankans in three tests starting at the end of the month after a one-day series.

Clarke, speaking before boarding the plane for his first tour in charge of the side, said he would like to promise Australian cricket fans no more pain but conceded that any improvement would be hard-earned.

“I really hope we can turn things around straight away (but) I think it is going to take time for us to work our way back up the rankings,” Clarke told reporters at Sydney airport.

“I’m confident with the talent we have, not just in our squad but around domestic cricket, if we keep the same attitude as we’ve had over the last few months with our training and our dedication, I can see us having some success.”

The 30-year-old faces a difficult introduction to test captaincy with tours of Sri Lanka and South Africa followed by a home series against New Zealand and then India, who are battling it out for number one status with England.

“We’re certainly not blinded by the fact we have two of the best teams in the world in their own conditions coming up in Sri Lanka and South Africa, so it’s going to be a tough start for us,” he said.

“But it’s a good test for us to see where we’re at, and if we can have some success against both these teams, playing away from home, I think that will give us some real confidence coming to the summer to play against India.”

Four uncapped players boarded the plane for Colombo on Thursday and Clarke admitted he had never met offspinner Nathan Lyon, although he had received “great reports” about the 23-year-old’s bowling on an Australia A tour of Zimbabwe.

“He’s got an opportunity to grab it with both hands and, by all reports, I’m pretty confident he’ll do that, so he’s certainly got a lot of talent,” Clarke said.

“Now it’s about giving him a go and seeing how he handles playing cricket for Australia.”

Clarke said he was confident of the security measures in place for the tour and was certain the team would be treated “like gold” in Sri Lanka.

Batsman Shaun Marsh and quick bowlers James Pattinson and Trent Copeland are the other uncapped players in the party and were desperate to take their chance at the top level, Clarke said.

“I love the fact we’ve got some new fresh faces that are excited and itching for their opportunity. I think that’s a great thing to have around the group,” Clarke concluded.

“But the facts are we have to have some success, we have to play good cricket, we have to improve from our recent results throughout the last Australian summer.

“We need to get better, and we know that as players, and I can guarantee we’re working as hard as I’ve ever worked in my career, so hopefully we can turn that around sooner rather than later.”

news covered by dawn sports