Clarke fights back after scrutiny of Ashes performances

NOTTINGHAM, England, Aug 5: Michael Clarke has bristled at suggestions he has lost the will to play for Australia, saying he has the "love, desire and passion" to recover his best form and lead the team to success in the Ashes.

The Australia captain is under scrutiny after scoring just 94 runs in six innings this series, which the tourists are losing 2-1 with two tests remaining.Clarke, 34, says on Wednesday ahead of the fourth test at Trent Bridge, "If you know me and you have the luxury to see how hard I train, if I didn't want to be here I wouldn't be doing the work I'm doing."

Clarke says he is ready to prove his critics wrong, like he did when he returned to fitness after back and hamstring problems to captain Australia to the Cricket World Cup title.

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