The Ashes 2013: Clarke upbeat about Ryan Harris' fitness

Australia captain Michael Clarke is positive about Ryan Harris’ fitness for the fourth Test at Chester-le-street.

Due to Ryan Harris’ poor fitness record, Australia have included Jackson Bird in the playing XI for the fourth Test. Jackson Bird has had a few good practice matches in England and is likely to make his Ashes debut in the fourth Test at Durham.

“In my mind I’m confident Ryano will be fine,” Clarke said on Thursday. “Us not bowling on that last day because of the rain is definitely going to help our bowlers. If he is (fit) I think he should definitely be selected. He’s a fantastic bowler, his record (58 Test wickets at 22.56) shows that, and I think we’ve seen throughout this series how important he is to our team.”

As far as Jackson Bird’s prospects of being selected for the fourth Test, Clarke said: “I don’t think anyone is here to ‘give them a go’. That’s not in any Test cricket and certainly not an Ashes series, especially the position we’re sitting in now. It’s about picking your best 11 players.”

Speaking of the flexibility in the batting order, Clarke was happy to have David Warner at the top of the order ahead of Shane Watson. “I read a little bit about what Boof (Darren Lehmann, the Australia coach) said yesterday (Wednesday) and I agree with that,” said Clarke.

“We’ve got options. Davey Warner has opened the batting in every Test match apart from one innings in his Test career and averaged close to 40. Chris Rogers has done really well and opened the batting his whole career in first-class cricket and so far for Australia. Watto’s (Watson’s) preferred position, he finds what best suits him is opening the batting as well. We have got so many openers, which is a good problem to have.”

Meanwhile, his counterpart, Alastair Cook has claimed that his team is desperate to win the series. “We want to go on and win the series. The way the lads are, the way we are as a team and the way (England coach) Andy Flower operates, there will be no let up of the standards we set ourselves,” said Cook.

“We start from scratch. We keep saying what a good side Australia are and Old Trafford showed that.” “Players have been putting tape on their bats for years,” said Cook. “I just think the actual story is a load of rubbish in terms of why people are putting tape on their bats. Fibreglass tape on their bats, that’s been going on for years. That’s just to protect the bat to make it last longer.”

Michael Clarke also denied that the players had attempted to decieve the Hotspot camera in the third Test. “I like DRS being there for the stinkers, the big inside edge, the blatant bat pads where you can see it’s a big lbw or big caught behind.

“Where I really think DRS has been handy is it shows where the ball pitches for lbws and shows where the ball hits you, so if you’re hit in line or if it pitches in line I think that’s extremely helpful to the umpires.”

The fourth test begins on Friday, July 9.