Aussies refocus on first test

Australian coach Tim Nielsen admits the Michael Clarke-Lara Bingle saga is a distraction but says the team is coping ahead of Friday's test at the Basin Reserve.

Clarke again dodged media yesterday and TV crews were kicked out of the team's hotel as he spent his first day training since returning from breaking up with Bingle in Sydney.

There is a a media frenzy in Australia and Nielsen has discussed the issue with the players.

"We'll deal with the distractions and move forward," he said.

"There's no real effect. He's a player going through a personal issue, like players tend to any day of the week. It's just that we happen to do it in a public forum. We're all supporting him and he's comfortable where he's at. It's the hard part about living a life that's quite public."

Nielsen said there were no reservations about selecting Clarke, who is Australia's vice-captain.

The crowd on the Basin bank might beg to differ but New Zealand fast bowler Chris Martin said he wouldn't be sledging Clarke.

"Not from me," Martin said. "I think he treats people he plays against with respect and that should be the way he gets treated as well.

"The fans will probably have a ball. I know that I've stood on a few boundaries in Australia and been ripped to shreds so it's nothing new on either side of the Tasman."

Martin said he hadn't noticed such interest in a player's personal life since England all-rounder Ian Botham in the 1980s.

"It's very tabloid. That's what I grew up watching. I think the tabloids may have even had a separate crew for Botham that followed him around. I hope Michael doesn't have to deal with that."

- © Fairfax NZ News

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