Clarke claims that Ashes is just another big Test series

A day before the first Test of the first Ashes this year was to begin,Australia captain Michael Clarke did his best to play

A day before the first Test of the first Ashes this year was to begin,Australia captain Michael Clarke did his best to play down the pressures that comes with an England-Australia series,saying that the urn wasnt more important than any of the other bilateral Test trophies that Australia competes for.

Ive read it will make or break my reputation as a captain. Personally,I dont feel like that, Clarke was quoted as saying. Every Test match I play in,every time I walk out to bat I try and make a hundred,whether its against Bangladesh,India,South Africa or England. That doesnt change my mindset.

Clarkes captaincy has been under severe strain,especially after his young side was made to look rather meek,when they were whitewashed 4-0 by MS Dhonis India earlier this year. Following the horrors in the subcontinent,Australia coach Mickey Arthur lost his job just a few days before the Trent Bridge Test,but many feel Clarke retained his role as leader only because the team was short on captaincy options.

Every time I captain Australia I want us to win, reassured Clarke. Because of the history and tradition of what comes with Ashes cricket,which is fantastic,it obviously builds this series up and thats great for the game,but as a player my mindset will be no different than it was last summer.

That summer in question,or the entire calendar year of 2012 in fact,was a golden period for Clarke and Australian cricket. The Australian captain not only scored 1595 runs in that year the fourth best in a single year at an average of 106.67,he also stroked his maiden triple century and three more double centuries.

While his form has dropped rather drastically since,Clarke is hoping to get back among the runs in the upcoming series,one that is the biggest from the fans point of view back home.

I understand theres so much expectation that comes with an Ashes tour,and thats from fans back at home,the biggest series you play as a cricketer,Clarke added. But as a player,that expectation I have on myself every single day,Im not more disappointed if we lose the first Test against England than if we lose the first Test against South Africa or India and the excitement when we win will be no different. Theres no more pressure from within.