Clarke’s batting woes continue ahead of third Ashes Test

Marsh will again be a key player when the third Test starts at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

Di Venuto’s blend of simple advice, plenty of balls whirred down with the “dog thrower” and positive reinforcement has worked in numerous instances since he was chosen for the job by the team performance manager Pat Howard and former coach Mickey Arthur during the summer of 2012-13.

“He seems unrestricted and he hasn’t had a problem since, so I certainly don’t think that’s any reason why he hasn’t been able to get a big score of late”, he said.

Yet in the week between Lord’s and Edgbaston, it is the unassuming Di Venuto who has primary responsibility for rousing into form a batsman of far greater accomplishment than his own.

Clarke did enjoy some time in the middle at Derby on Saturday, as Australia’s tour match against Derbyshire drifted to a predictable draw.

However, Di Venuto is adamant that a big score isn’t far away, and claims Clarke needs some more luck.

“As batsmen, you go through little patches where things don t quite click”, added di Venuto.

But skipper Michael Clarke’s quest for lengthy time in the middle was cut short when he fell for 16 to 19-year-old paceman Will Davis.

“You don’t want to look too far ahead”.

Watson, who was replaced by understudy Marsh for the second test, teed off and needed only 39 balls to bring up his half-century.

Haddin received treatment from physio Alex Kountouris for what looked to be cramp, but recovered to score 32 before his stumps were rattled by Tony Palladino.

He struck eight boundaries in a valuable 96-minute workout as Australia finished 1-95 in their second dig. You can’t do that in the nets. If he gets a chance he’s ready and I hope he gets a run at it and can make that spot his own.’. He’s meticulous in his preparation.

Clarke made three hundreds against England in 2013, but since the last of those there have been 17 innings in which he has been dismissed for 24 runs or fewer.

He was dropped by the teenage wicketkeeper Harvey Hosein on 19 from the second ball after tea which denied the debutant seamer Will Davis the chance to collect the Australian captain’s wicket for the second time in the match.

It was a similar scenario that saw Shaun play in both Tests during Australia’s recent 2-0 win in the Caribbean after Rogers was ruled out with a concussion suffered while batting in the nets.

Any thoughts of Australia pursuing victory had long since been abandoned as Clarke set about discovering some form by opening the batting alongside Shaun Marsh.

“My mindset over the last couple of weeks is just making sure that I’m ready to go if there is an opportunity down the track”.

At 129 for seven, a follow-on looked very likely but Palladino (82) had other ideas as he launched a scathing attack against the Australian bowlers.

The elder Marsh had made a century in the first innings and made a quickfire 30 before retiring out during tea, although most of the focus was on Clarke, who has been struggling in the Investec Series.