Toughest tests loom for Clarke

Ed Jackson, writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, says that despite Australia’s recent Test success against West Indies. The Australian team has weaknesses that could be exposed against stronger opposition over the next 18 months.

Ahead are some of the toughest assignments Clarke’s men could possibly face. World No. 2 South Africa heads to Australia at the end of 2012 before next year offers a tour of India that leads into back-to-back Ashes campaigns. There are several Australian players still struggling to prove themselves. Opener Ed Cowan will go into the home series against South Africa's world-class pace line-up of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel knowing he is running out of time to make a big score. The Proteas' pace guns will provide plenty of questions for Australia's batsmen, with Shane Watson yet to solidify his role at No. 3 and veterans Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey never far from scrutiny.