Aussie win a boost for Twenty20 World Cup: Clarke

ABU DHABI (AFP) — Australia's stand-in captain Michael Clarke said Saturday his country's one-day series win over Pakistan this week had boosted it chances for next month's Twenty20 World Cup tournament.
"We will have an advantage because we're playing as a team (and) a lot of these guys are going to be involved in the Twenty20 World Cup," said Clarke after Australia Friday won the fourth game a five match-series.
Australia's victory by eight wickets gave it a 3-1 lead in the series, with the fifth match to be played here Sunday.
Clarke led Australia from the front Friday, scoring an unbeaten 100 as they chased a modest 198-run target for the loss of only two wickets. Shane Watson struck 85 not out as Australia won their first one-day series since September.
Clarke said the victory boded well for Australia's prospects in the Twenty20 World Cup, to be held in England.
"If anything it's a positive that we're all together at the moment," said Clarke, Australia's captain in the absence Ricky Ponting, who was rested for this series along with Michael Hussey and Mitchell Johnson.
Clarke said he was satisfied with the way his players had adapted to conditions in the United Arab Emirates.
"To play the type of cricket we have, in hot conditions and tough wickets -- especially after coming from South Africa, where the conditions were so different -- I'm (impressed) with the way we've performed," said Clarke.
Before playing Pakistan, Australia lost two one-day series to South Africa -- home and away -- and squared a series 2-2 against New Zealand at home.
Clarke, who was out of form before this series began, said he was more pleased with the victory than his own performance.
"I'm stoked personally to make some runs but I'm more happy that we've won this series. It's been a while for us," said Clarke.
Clarke said his team would not be complacent about playing Sunday's match.
"There is no such thing as a dead match when playing for your country. To me, any time you put on your one-day cap, it's a big game and we have come here to win every game."
Clarke, who said he "really enjoyed" his first overseas tour as captain, added that he would be happy once Ponting returned to the post.
"Our captain's back home and we can't wait to have him back. He's a fantastic leader and I'm stoked that he's happy to give me these chances," he said.
Clarke said he expected paceman Brett Lee to play in the Twenty20 match against Pakistan in Dubai on May 7, the last encounter of the current limited-overs series.
"The feeling at the moment with Bing (Lee) is that he's so excited to be back around the group," Clarke said. "I watched him bowl in the nets and he is not far off." link...