Michael Clarke

I've always said, in India and England especially, but all around the world, it's hard to start your innings against good attacks.

I've shown throughout my career that I have always put representing my state and country first and foremost. I love what I do.

I hope we win every game we play, but the reality is it can't happen.

As captain of the Australian team we will do whatever it takes to make sure this game continues to grow.

We believe the most important thing is giving back to this game, not just for the players that are playing today but for the future of the game.

It would be wrong to plan too much ahead of a match. You've got to go with the flow, go with your instincts.

Twenty20 cricket is fantastic. I love it, especially how fast it is.

I think it is important to lead from the front no doubt.

Afridi has been a wonderful player for Pakistan.

Conditions dictate how much fast bowling you face compared to how much spin you face.

When I was younger I cared more about the position I batted.

I've never scored an easy hundred, it's always been tough, especially against a very good attack.

To make big runs you've got to bat plenty of time.

I love batting at four.

As a captain you probably take it more personally when the team doesn't have as much success as you would like, which probably just makes me work harder.

I'm like every other player; you get frustrated that you don't make as many runs as you would like and get frustrated that the team's not having success but that only makes the challenge more exciting.

The teams that have won the World Cup, I've looked at them as the No. 1 team in the world.

I don't want to be restricted in where I field and how I field.

I don't want to miss any game for Australia.

I'd love to play in the Big Bash at some stage.

I've said openly I'd love to take part in the IPL at some stage.

I certainly feel like I've got the support and respect as a player because I've played a lot of international cricket.

I'm not going to buy a magazine to read about Denzel Washington's personal life.

I think I'm extremely lucky to have been able to go through a separation with the mother of my child and us still be great friends.

These one-dayers and these Twenty20s is where Virat Kohli can really stand up and lead from the front.

I would love not to take cricket home but I don't do shades of grey. I need to be 100 per cent committed.

I love Indian food and I love biryani.

If one of our players is getting a hard time, we're going to stick up for him.

I have always enjoyed my time coming to India. It is a country where I have always felt welcome and I don't mind the spices, I can deal with it.

You need to do what's comfortable to you... if it doesn't suit your personality then I wouldn't try to be someone I'm not.

I wish I knew myself, when I was playing, with the insight I gained once I found peace and distance from cricket, and fatherhood. I might have enjoyed those last years more.

I don't think Sir Michael Clarke suits me at all, no.

Play tough Australian cricket. Whether we like it or not, that's in our blood. If you try and walk away from it, we might be the most liked team in the world, we're not going to win. We won't win a game.

That's why you train every single day. You want to just bat.

I remember my father, when I was a kid, retiring me on 50. He never used to let me bat past 50. He'd say I had to retire to give the other kids an opportunity.

I believe cricket is big part of this country's culture, like all sports but cricket is the most dominant in our country. It is in our blood and even if you don't sit and watch it, the sound of cricket represents summer.

Confidence is a vital part of any team and any squad. You have to earn that though.

Every time I come to India, I know I am going to get some great food.

The way I've been brought up to play cricket, the captain has always taken accountability for success and defeat.

I live and breathe cricket 24/7.

How much money you have earned is irrelevant because most important thing is to earn and give respect. I think it all starts with how you have been brought up.

To me, Virat Kohli is the greatest batsman to have ever played one-day cricket. I have no doubts after seeing what he has achieved for India.

I've always loved the water and boats so Whitsundays is magnificent.

My mum and dad both worked full-time jobs to send my sister and I to public school, and to allow us to play the sports we wanted.

I'd like to say I'm a very silly man. But I'm not that silly. I'm not throwing any diamond ring down a toilet.

The IPL deserves a lot of credit for introducing and growing T20 cricket.

There are parts of the game you always miss. I have missed the competitive spirit, competing against the opposition. But I have really enjoyed time away from cricket.

Lot of people think I have played international cricket for 13 years, but I started at six years of age, so it is 28 years of cricket.

Andrew Symonds went on TV to criticise my leadership. I'm sorry, but he is not a person to judge anyone on leadership.

When you win the toss and bowl, the result always dictates whether you'll be criticised or applauded.