!["I'm really happy and comfortable with my relationship with Cricket Australia [and] certainly with my team-mates"](https://i0.wp.com/battingwithbimal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/michaelclarkewesternsuburbsvgordon_m59terh0crx.jpg?ssl=1)
“I’m really happy and comfortable with my relationship with Cricket Australia [and] certainly with my team-mates”
Australia captain Michael Clarke has dismissed rumours that there is a rift between him and his teammates.
According to reports, Clarke wants to resume him position as leader of the Test side even though certain players believe that Steven Smith is a better captain.
Smith led Australia in the second, third and fourth Test against India after Clarke tore his hamstring in the first Test in Adelaide.
“It seems like some people in particular are going to write what they want to write,” Clarke said. “I’m really happy and comfortable with my relationship with Cricket Australia [and] certainly with my team-mates.
“It’s water off a duck’s back for me, I’ve copped it my whole career. It’s another day, another newspaper sold. I don’t really care.”
Clarke also noted that he was delighted to score 51 while representing Western Suburbs in their grade cricket match against Gordon.
“There’s still a long way to go before I can walk out in an international and represent Australia,” he said. “It’s nice to be in a position where the Australian medical staff can allow me to come back and play for my grade club, but it’s one day at a time.
“My goal is to get fit as soon as I can and then obviously there’s a time frame set by Cricket Australia and the selectors that I certainly understand and respect.”