MICHAEL Clarke has promised plenty of hard work after tasting defeat for the first time since becoming Australian captain full time.
A series victory was on the line but, as well as Australia played in the first two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka, yesterday morning's 78-run defeat in game three was an unacceptable display for Clarke.
Inspired by UpulTharanga's 111 off 139 deliveries and then a devastating 5-28 by fast bowler LasithMalinga, the home team bounced back to bring the series to 2-1 in Hambantota and gain momentum ahead of the final two matches in Colombo on Saturday and Monday. Not even Doug Bollinger's excellent 4-42 off 10 overs or Michael Hussey's typically busy 63 could placate Clarke.
"We didn't perform as well as we would like at the start of the innings with the ball, we came back really well with the ball and our batting let us down," he said.
Hussey and Clarke tried to revive Australia's hopes, but when the captain was dismissed for 46 the die was cast. The home team claimed the final five wickets for just 25 runs.
