Clarke asks teammates to lift their game as Oz No.1 ranking under threat

Sydney: Australia skipper Michael Clarke has called on his under-performing teammates to lift their game as their world No.1 one-day ranking is under threat after being beaten by England at The Oval.

England’s six-wicket win handed them a 2-0 lead in the five-match series and a clean sweep will make the hosts the top-ranked nation in all forms of cricket. The series now moves to Birmingham before matches in Chester-le-Street and Manchester, a newspaper reports. Clarke said his side had been badly beaten. “I think the scoreboard at Lord``s (on Friday) probably hid how far away the teams were,” he said. “I think England outplayed us at Lord``s, it only said 15 runs but I think they outplayed us at Lord``s and they certainly outplayed us here. We have got areas not only with the bat we need to improve but with the ball as well,” Clarke said. ANI