<p> Australia captain Michael Clarke said his side had to bat better against swing bowling if they were to win the World Cup after a top-order collapse ultimately proved decisive in a dramatic one-wicket defeat by New Zealand.<br /></p>.<p>“We were extremely poor, there is no doubt about that,” said Clarke. “I think credit needs to go to New Zealand bowlers. They bowled really well.<br /><br />“They swung the ball nicely and bowled good areas, but our shot selection was very poor, and I thought our defence more than anything else was an area that was a lot poorer than we would have liked.<br /><br />“I think moving forward the balls are going to swing and we've got work to do with the bat. That's for sure.”<br /><br />Clarke insisted Australia hadn't given up hope of victory after they were dismissed inside 33 overs.<br /><br />“I made it clear to the boys that I thought we had enough runs, and I think you have to do that certainly as captain of the team,” he said.<br /><br />“You have to back your bowlers. We've got a fantastic attack. All the guys have individual skill and talent, there is no doubt about it. And I think you've seen a good glimpse of that with the way Starcy bowled today.<br /><br />“So the faith was there, there was no doubt about it. And we just had to execute. I think we did that.”<br /><br />“Starc to me was a standout today. That individual performance was as good as you'll see in any form of the game.”<br /><br />Clarke, who holed out off Boult in his first international game since December last year following a hamstring injury, added: “I'd like some more runs. I'm no different from the other top six batters. We were disappointing today, and my shot selection was poor.”<br /><br />The win moved New Zealand into the quarterfinals with four wins in as many games, while Australia have three points in three, after Saturday's match followed a 111-run win over England and a wash-out with Bangladesh.<br /><br />Clarke said the lengthy flights involved threatened to be the biggest challenge facing Australia in the remainder of their group campaign.<br /><br />“The toughest part of the next few games for us is the flying time, I think,” he said.“We've got eight-and-a-half hours travel time to Perth tomorrow,” said Clarke, whose team next play Afghanistan on March 4.<br /><br />“Then another five hours back to Sydney,” said Clarke of the match against Sri Lanka on March 8.“So recovery is going to be the key.”</p>
<p> Australia captain Michael Clarke said his side had to bat better against swing bowling if they were to win the World Cup after a top-order collapse ultimately proved decisive in a dramatic one-wicket defeat by New Zealand.<br /></p>.<p>“We were extremely poor, there is no doubt about that,” said Clarke. “I think credit needs to go to New Zealand bowlers. They bowled really well.<br /><br />“They swung the ball nicely and bowled good areas, but our shot selection was very poor, and I thought our defence more than anything else was an area that was a lot poorer than we would have liked.<br /><br />“I think moving forward the balls are going to swing and we've got work to do with the bat. That's for sure.”<br /><br />Clarke insisted Australia hadn't given up hope of victory after they were dismissed inside 33 overs.<br /><br />“I made it clear to the boys that I thought we had enough runs, and I think you have to do that certainly as captain of the team,” he said.<br /><br />“You have to back your bowlers. We've got a fantastic attack. All the guys have individual skill and talent, there is no doubt about it. And I think you've seen a good glimpse of that with the way Starcy bowled today.<br /><br />“So the faith was there, there was no doubt about it. And we just had to execute. I think we did that.”<br /><br />“Starc to me was a standout today. That individual performance was as good as you'll see in any form of the game.”<br /><br />Clarke, who holed out off Boult in his first international game since December last year following a hamstring injury, added: “I'd like some more runs. I'm no different from the other top six batters. We were disappointing today, and my shot selection was poor.”<br /><br />The win moved New Zealand into the quarterfinals with four wins in as many games, while Australia have three points in three, after Saturday's match followed a 111-run win over England and a wash-out with Bangladesh.<br /><br />Clarke said the lengthy flights involved threatened to be the biggest challenge facing Australia in the remainder of their group campaign.<br /><br />“The toughest part of the next few games for us is the flying time, I think,” he said.“We've got eight-and-a-half hours travel time to Perth tomorrow,” said Clarke, whose team next play Afghanistan on March 4.<br /><br />“Then another five hours back to Sydney,” said Clarke of the match against Sri Lanka on March 8.“So recovery is going to be the key.”</p>