England will continue targeting Australias under-pressure skipper Michael Clarke as they try to secure an Ashes series victory at Trent Bridge this week, according to fast bowler Stuart Broad. Clarke, like most of the visiting batsmen, has struggled in the English conditions and is averaging 18 compared to his test career average of almost 50. He managed only 13 runs in two innings at Edgbaston last week as England won by eight wickets to move 2-1 ahead.
We obviously do a lot of research on him because he averages something like 52 in over 110 tests which is remarkable, the career hes had, Broad, Englands leading wicket taker in the series with 12, told a news conference on 4 August at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. We talk a lot about him and were proud of the way weve bowled at him so far.
He added: Weve made it hard for Michael and hell obviously be working hard to get the better of us this week and hes got a good record in England. Hes scored a lot of hundreds against us as a team so we know how dangerous he is. But we also bowled really well at him. Do we need to adjust our plans, do we need to bowl differently at him here at Trent Bridge? Well talk about it over the next couple of days but hes such a key player for them and its been going well so far for us.
Momentum is with England but this unpredictable series could easily take another swing tomorrow (6 August) at Trent Bridge where Broad says England will have to be right on the money against a wounded Australia team. We know they are a dangerous team. None of the tests have been very close have they? Not like 2005 where each game went to the wire. Its been a fascinating series, he said.
