Clarke's opening hopes boosted

Michael Clarke's hopes of opening for Australia regularly have been boosted by John Buchanan, who acknowledged that he had done well in his role as opener. Clarke opened in the first two games of the VB Series and scored 66 and 97, before being pushed down to his regular position at No.7 when Matthew Hayden returned.

Incidentally, Clarke's good showing put additional pressure on Hayden, whose form has had Ricky Ponting concerned. What Clarke had to do to be opener, Buchanan believed, was to keep doing "what he is doing at the moment".

"If he is given the opportunity to open," Buchanan said to Fox Sports, "like any player coming into a side or into a new position, if you can grab those opportunities when they are presented. That is as much as you can do."

Buchanan said that Clarke was being viewed as a vital part of Australia's 2007 World Cup campaign. "There will probably be changes between now and then ... and Michael has done well and told the selectors he is a viable option."

With Adam Gilchrist being rested due to a recurring knee problem, Clarke is expected to open with Hayden when Australia take on Pakistan at Sydney on Sunday.