Potchefstroom, South Africa: Michael Clarke got right down to it on Friday, challenging South Africa's top-ranked fast bowlers by rating his own Ashes-dominating Australia attack as the best in the world.
In his first public comments in South Africa ahead of a three-test series between the world's strongest sides on current form, the Australia captain answered easily when asked if he felt Australia's bowlers were better than the Proteas'.
“Yup, I certainly do,” Clarke said.
Clarke's feelings are fortified by Australia's destruction of England's batting lineup in a 5-0 Ashes whitewash, where left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson took 37 wickets in the five tests and four of the five best-performing bowlers in the series were Australians.
“Maybe I'm a little bit biased but in my opinion this Australian attack is the best attack in the world,” Clarke said.
“Statistically, the South African attack is unbelievable, there's no doubt about that, and they love their own conditions and they've had a lot of success here ... but in my own opinion, from what I have seen from the Australian fast bowlers over a long period of time, I feel we have the best attack in the world.”