Cricket: Clarke emphatic he is respected

Michael Clarke. Photo / Getty Images

Michael Clarke has emphatically denied there's any ill-feeling towards him in the Australian cricket team, saying he felt "a lot of respect" from teammates.

Clarke has been forced to answer questions about his public image and team opinions of his leadership and attitude this week in the wake of a 2-1 limited overs series defeat to Sri Lanka and ahead of the home Ashes tests against England.

But he couldn't have been much more blunt about the level of support he felt within the team, both here and during the recently completed tour of India, where the Australians lost the test series 2-0 and the one-day series, in which Clarke was captain, 1-0.

"For the stuff in the changeroom you'd have to ask the other guys but I certainly feel the guys have shown me a lot of respect when I've had the opportunity to captain, and I've really enjoyed it," Clarke said at a sponsor's function on Monday.

"I enjoyed the other night when Ricky wasn't there, and I'm really enjoying being vice-captain under Ricky Ponting."

Asked directly about rumblings in the ranks, Clarke said: "Not that I know of."

The matter of public perception has also been raised, following unfavourable results in a weekend newspaper survey, but Clarke said he could only be who he was.

"Everyone is entitled to their opinion, it's important to be true to yourself, and true to who you are," said Clarke.

"People will make their judgement, but I think as a team we need to continue to work together and improve our cricket in all three forms of the game and we feel we're in a good place.

"We're all heading in the one direction and we're looking forward to the summer."

Clarke's Ashes preparation will move away from the madding crowd for a Sheffield Shield match with NSW this week.

"At the moment my body feels pretty good, I feel like I'm hitting the ball okay and I'd like to spend a bit of time in the middle, hopefully some runs for the Blues would be nice," he said.

"I probably didn't spend enough time in the middle for the Test series (in India) to see whether I was hitting the ball well or I wasn't.

"Making that hundred in that one day match showed I was. I was disappointed in the first two one dayers against Sri Lanka not to make a big score, but nice to make 50 last night."

Mike Hussey meanwhile said he was maintaining his distance from any public speculation about his place in the Test side, following a poor Shield match for Western Australia and a few runs for the Australians against Sri Lanka.

Fellow thirtysomething Simon Katich said he would need to play in at least one domestic match before the Ashes to ensure his recovery from a thumb fracture.

- AAP