Michael Clarke says room for both him and Steve Smith in Australia’s World Cup XI

MICHAEL Clarke has scoffed at suggestions there is no room for both he and Steve Smith in Australia’s World Cup XI because their roles are too similar.

Michael Clarke at the announcement of the Australian World Cup squad. Australia and New Zealand will host the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup which starts next month. pic. Phil Hillyard

MICHAEL Clarke has scoffed at suggestions there is no room for both he and Steve Smith in Australia’s World Cup XI because their roles are too similar.

Former South African captain Graeme Smith is among those who have questioned whether Australian selectors should risk selecting Clarke for the February 14-March 29 tournament, saying: “[Steve] Smith has more of a power game than Clarke.

“I also feel it’s all about personality. Going into a World Cup, it’s all about how a team is run behind the scenes, it is a high pressure environment.

“Michael has been an outstanding captain, but is more of an abrasive personality. It will be interesting to see now that they have been under Smith for the last few months and if Michael moves back into that space, how then that shifts the personality of the team.’

“If Clarke plays, does Smith play? It’s almost hard to find a position for both of them.”

Clarke said it should simply come down to selecting the best 11 players available.

“It’s about trying to pick the best 11 players,” Clarke told news.com.au.

“I don’t think it’s about any individual. There’s roles to play for every player. You know your strengths.

“I’ve played enough cricket to know that if I’m fully fit and playing my best cricket that the selectors will work out what they think is their best XI.”

Michael Clarke says it is simply about picking the best 11 players available.

Clarke said he was ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation from hamstring surgery and remained confident he would make Cricket Australia’s February deadline to return to fitness.

“Right now, for me it’s about getting fit, about getting back on the park. Once I’ve done that, the selectors will work out what’s the best XI and we’ll go with that,” he added.

Clarke serves as an ambassador for the MILO MVP program, which recognises youngsters around the country who have displayed great sportsmanship and fair play.

The skipper had a strong message for the next generation of players.

“The MVP program, a lot of his about showing sportsmanship and accepting that, as part of this game, that one team wins and one team is going to lose. You’ve got to learn to deal with both sides,” he said from the SCG.

Michael Clarke and Steve Smith in the nets.

“One of the greatest things about this game is it has always been known as a gentlemen’s sport and that’s one of the challenges you face as a professional cricketer and as a professional sportsman — that level between playing the right spirit and not overstepping that mark.

“That’s what we’re trying to educate these young boys and girls with. On the field you want to play hard, you want to win but you’ve also got to accept that you’re not going to have as much success as you want.”

Clarke admitted the current Australian team was still working on it themselves.

“No one’s perfect,” he said. “We work on that on a daily basis. We want to play good, hard, tough cricket but we also don’t want to overstep that mark. Every team needs to work on that. You want to have success, but there’s a way to do it as well.”