Michael Clarke praised the Australia selectors for backing their instinct on selection ahead of the Second Investec Ashes Test, which Australia won by 405 runs.

Mitchell Marsh got the nod ahead of Shane Watson in the all-rounder slot for the tourists and the 23-year-old repaid the faith by securing match bowling figures of 3-31 and scoring 27 not out from 19 balls as Australia piled on rapid runs in the second innings.

“Marshy played really well,” Clarke said. “His intent shows how much of a team player he is, the way he walked out to bat today, and he executed really well with the ball, getting two crucial wickets in the first innings and then doing a great job in the second innings.

“Credit to the selectors for going with their gut and whatever they believe. It was hard on Watto, who has been a fantastic player for us for a long time, but that is the advantage we have with the squad.

“Everyone is fit and healthy and the selectors have to work out what they feel is the best 11 for each game."

Australia’s dominant performance at Lord’s may make England’s victory in the First Investec Test at Cardiff seem like a distant memory, but Clarke adopted a tone of realism in relation to the situation of the series.

“We didn't talk much about Cardiff,” he said. “Once we left that changing room, our focus was turning up here and playing some of our best cricket.

“We didn’t feel we played our best (at Cardiff) but I think today the boys sitting up there can look themselves in the mirror and say ‘we played some pretty good cricket’.

“The way the boys batted, obviously Chris Rogers and Steven Smith, and then David Warner got us off to a great start in the second innings.

“I thought the intent with the bat in the second innings was outstanding and the execution from the bowlers was spot on.

“I'd like to be 2-0, but I'll accept where we are. We were outplayed in the first match but I think we bounced back really well and we have to be 100 per cent ready to go for the third Test.”

Clarke reserved particular praise for his left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, who bounced back from taking 2-180 in the opening game by garnering six of the 20 England wickets to fall at the home of cricket.

“The advantage of having someone like Mitch is that he's so fit and such a great athlete he can bowl long spells, or I can ask him to come on and bowl short spells,” Clarke said. “It is about assessing the wicket and game situation.

“Credit to the rest of the attack, the way they bowled today allowed Mitch to do that.”

 

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