'We're not scared of India' - Clark

Stuart Clark has laughed off suggestions that Australia are afraid of India, following their five-wicket loss to the visitors at the MCG on Sunday. Before the match Virender Sehwag said Australia were "scared and a little worried" that India can beat them at home, but Clark said the comments were far from true.

"I keep reading that certain members of their team say we are scared and things like that," Clark told AAP. "I find that pretty much laughable. That is why you play cricket, play sport or do whatever in life to be challenged. We are going through a stage where India are playing good cricket and the guys are really excited and really keen to show everyone, not just our public, that we are still the best team in the world."

Australia must now focus on their next match, against Sri Lanka at the WACA on Friday, and Clark is no certainty to play despite a terrific spell of 1 for 26 from ten overs in the Melbourne loss. The world's No. 3-ranked Test bowler is a fringe member of the world-champion ODI side and if James Hopes returns from a minor hamstring problem it could force Clark out of the side.

"As you've seen with Stuart in Test cricket, he seems very much at home when there's a pressure situation," the captain Ricky Ponting said after Friday's defeat. "It's great to see we have a back-up bowler like him that we can call on when we have an injury to the main guys."

Brad Hogg will also be fighting to be reinstated to the attack after he was left out in Melbourne and Clark knows a fast and bouncy WACA pitch will be his best chance of retaining his spot. Some expensive analyses earlier in his career - 0 for 87 from seven overs against West Indies in 2006-07 was particularly bad - left him out of favour in coloured clothing but Clark is determined to fight back.

"It is always frustrating when you can't get a game for Australia," Clark said. "I think I am doing everything I can, it is just there are a few guys in front of me that have done well and deserve their spot in the team.

"Test cricket is about getting as many balls as you can in the right spot, and that becomes a bit predictable in one-day cricket and you tend go the journey. And I think my role and what I had done for NSW was with the new ball, and I was in a new role for Australia. Maybe I suffered a little bit from that, it is hard to say."