The skipper of Oz Paine rejects Clarke's critics

Cape Town – Australia Test Captain Tim Paine fought back Michael Clarke to say that Australians are trying too much to be loved instead of winning games.

Clarke, a former Australian skipper, said the national selection had to "stop fearing to be loved and start worrying about being respected" and also urged the team to " play Australian cricket ".

Paine, however, rejected the idea that Australians want to be liked by opposing teams, saying the opposite and that the public had to trust the team again in the wake of the scandal. the falsification of the ball.

The gatekeeper told ESPNcricinfo: "No one said to be loved, certainly by the opposition.

"We talked about the desire to win the trust of the Australian public and make sure you clearly want the Australian public and cricket fans to like or love the Australian test team.

"Certainly there is this aspect, but from the point of view of opposition, we are not afraid to be a little bit beloved.

"We will always play Australian cricket, as Michael has said, that will not change."

Paine added that the approach of the Australian team had already evolved if you look at their result during the test in Dubai last month against Pakistan when they held out for a draw.

The gloveman is also confident that thanks to his arsenal of fast bowlers – Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins – back in shape and on fire, they will give a good start to India in the upcoming Home Test series .

Paine continued: "Clearly, Johannesburg was a really strange circumstance and a tough game for everyone, I think, but in Dubai, the guys competed as hard as they could and will continue to do it, and we have more, the senior guys are coming back now.

"With Hazlewood, Starc and Cummins, it will only help guys grow up with confidence.

"With guys like Travis Head and Marcus Harris, when Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Patrick Cummins show up, it's a bit easier to play that confident and aggressive cricket style that Australia wants to play and our team certainly wants to play. "

The first of four tests between Australia and India begins in Adelaide on December 6th.