Upbeat Clarke tips more success

The loss of some of the best Australian players in history has not convinced Michael Clarke that the side is about to slide. Clarke, who has been promoted to vice-captain for the West Indies tour following Adam Gilchrist's retirement, believes the team will not suffer any falls.

Australia leave for the West Indies at the weekend for a three-Test tour and the squad carries a new look after the departures of Warne, McGrath, Gilchrist, Langer, Martyn and Hogg over the past two years. "Australia is playing as well as ever," Clarke, who was part of the 2-1 Test win and CB Series loss to India, told the Sydney Morning Herald. "Our squad is as good as it has ever been. We have definitely lost a few great players in the last two years, but people come and go and the game stays the same."

The wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has come into the outfit and is in line for his Test debut while Stuart MacGill is back following wrist surgery. The bowlers Ashley Noffke, Beau Casson and Doug Bollinger have also been recruited for the Caribbean trip.

"The new guys that have come in have put their hands up and a lot of the guys are looking forward to fulfilling their potential to do well," Clarke said. "Both Ricky Ponting and I are excited for what is ahead for the Australian team."

After leading the side in the Twenty20 internationals last season, Clarke has now assumed more Test responsibility and will work as an intermediary between the newer members and Ponting. "I am 27 years of age," he said. "I know all the young guys and they can come to me."

Clarke did not join some of his older team-mates in India for the IPL and his main travel during the international break involved a visit to the United States with his fiance Lara Bingle. His father Les has Hodgkin's disease and being with family was more important than extra Twenty20 games after a busy summer.

"I made the decision for my body and to spend time with my dad," he said. "It was really nice to be able to spend some time with my family and Lara - it was fantastic for both of us to spend some time together before I headed off on this tour."

Clarke said he felt it was important to get away from the game and the limelight. "I really needed it," he said. "I love cricket, but at times it can feel like being stuck in a garage and I wanted to get back to that place where you are so keen to get back into it."

He said he now feels fresh and he was full of enthusiasm at the start of Australia's pre-tour camp in Brisbane on Monday. "It's great to be back with all the boys," he said, "and I'm really enjoying some outdoor cricket training."