Our pace attack is confident: Clarke

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Australia captain Michael Clarke on Thursday exuded confidence on his pace battery and said whether there is a four-prong pace attack or not, they are good enough to take the wickets in the third cricket Test against India starting here on Friday.

Australia would seek a replacement of James Pattinson in either Ryan Harris or Mitchell Starc, and Clarke believed both of them would be good enough to do the job.

"He (Harris) is as good a fast bowler as I have seen throughout my career. He has had a lot of success. Our attack is very confident. Be it three or four fast bowlers, they can all do really well," he said.

"It's a kind of wicket where the new ball would play a very important part in this Test. The Day One would really suit fast bowling."

Clarke gave a hint that he might think of opting to bowl first if the wicket retained that kind of grass and hardness as it was a couple of days ago.

"I would think about it. I find it hard to bowl first and be without any spinner in my team. No matter what the conditions are like. But you also want to find the best way to win a game. I need to make two very smart decisions tomorrow morning," he said.

Fresh from his triple century in Sydney, Clarke said he would like to carry his good form into the match on Friday.

"I have never been a consistent performer throughout my career. I would certainly like to improve it. As of now, I am 0 not out when I go out to bat," said Clarke, who hit an unbeaten 329 to ensure an innings and 68 runs win over the Indians in the second Test at the SCG.

"I could get a pair and talking about my place in the team as I was doing a couple of weeks' ago. It's gone, these are completely different conditions, completely new game.

"I have never been a big believer in in-form and out-form thing. There are days when you have your days off and days when you don't," he added.