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    "title": "Clarke draws Ponting parallels for Smith",
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    "excerpt": "Michael Clarke has said he feels sympathy for Steven Smith as media speculation swirls around the leadership ",
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    "editor1": "<p><span style=\"font-size:14px;\"><span style=\"font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">Brisbane, Feb 2 (IANS) Michael Clarke has said he feels sympathy for Steven Smith as media speculation swirls around the leadership of the Australian cricket team while the injured skipper continues his recovery.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px;\"><span style=\"font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">Following Smith&#39;s elevation to the Australian vice-captaincy and successful stint at the helm during the Border-Gavaskar Test series against India while Clarke recuperated from hamstring surgery, the skipper can see parallels to the scenario four years ago involving Ricky Ponting.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px;\"><span style=\"font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">Ponting relinquished Australia&#39;s Test and ODI captaincy in March 2011 following Australia&#39;s quarter-final exit at the World Cup.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px;\"><span style=\"font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">After 77 Tests and 228 One-Day Internationals as skipper, he handed over to Clarke, made himself available for selection as a batsman and played a further 16 Tests and ODIs.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px;\"><span style=\"font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">Clarke first captained Australia in a Test match as a stand-in for an injured Ponting in the final match of the 2010-11 Ashes series in Sydney.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px;\"><span style=\"font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">Asked by a Brisbane radio station if he would be prepared to emulate Ponting and play under Smith&#39;s leadership, Clarke was unequivocal: &quot;Most definitely I would.&quot;&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px;\"><span style=\"font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">&quot;I feel for Smiddy (Smith), because I sat in his shoes when a lot of the media were trying to call for Ricky Ponting to retire,&quot; Clarke told Triple M Brisbane.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px;\"><span style=\"font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">&quot;It&#39;s certainly not personal between Smiddy and I, we&#39;ve been friends for a long time and will continue to be. The people that sit above both him and I will make their decisions.&quot;&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px;\"><span style=\"font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">&quot;Whatever they feel is the best eleven players, they&#39;ll pick that eleven. Whoever they feel is the best captain for the team, then they&#39;ll pick that. If my time is over as a player - or as a captain - then, you know, the game moves on,&quot; Clarke said.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px;\"><span style=\"font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">&quot;I still think I have a lot to offer the team, I still feel like I can perform and help us have success, but that&#39;s out of my hands. The most important thing for me is to get fit and healthy.&quot;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px;\"><span style=\"font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">Clarke is in the Queensland capital to continue his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Centre, and added that reports of a rift with Cricket Australia (CA) officials were &quot;news to me&quot;.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px;\"><span style=\"font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">&quot;I&#39;d like to know where it&#39;s coming from,&quot; Clarke added. &quot;I haven&#39;t been around the team. For the last seven weeks or so I&#39;ve been away from the group. I feel like my relationship with Cricket Australia, certainly with my teammates, is exceptional.&quot;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n",
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    "created": "2015-02-07 09:43:00",
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