Clarke challenges Graeme Smith despite Proteas' upper hand in second Test

Australian captain Michael Clarke has thrown down the gauntlet to South African captain Graeme Smith despite his team being in a desperate situation in the second Test between the two nations at Port Elizabeth.

South Africa lead by 369 runs with six wickets in hand two days to play in the second Test yet Clarke claimed that if the situations were opposite he would have already declared.

According to News.com.au, by making a point that Australia would have already declared, Clarke has brought into spotlight the inherently conservative way in which South Africa play.

South Africa had shut up shop with three wickets in hand and just 16 runs to win against India, two months ago at Wanderers but this is not the way Australia plays its cricket as is evident by their two-wicket victory in a record run chase at the same stadium two and a half years ago, the report said.

Clarke said that they could still win although it was an uphill battle and also it would depend on the number of runs they would have to chase.

Clarke is also taking hope from the three issues confronting Smith: a groin injury to left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell has left Smith a bowler short, he has no front line spinner and heavy rain is forecast for Monday.