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Michael Clarke leads his team from the field during day four of the tour match against Worcestershire. Source:Getty Images
AS Michael Clarke makes his way to the middle of Trent Bridge for the toss with England's Alistair Cook, his stomach will be churning with a mixture of nerves, apprehension and excitement.
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Over the next six months they will confront each other on 10 occasions, with one captain guaranteed to have his reputation and record enhanced, and one left to ponder his defeat and subsequent chorus of doubters.
Make no mistake, these back-to-back Ashes campaigns provide these two captains an opportunity to leave a legacy and to charter a course back to the top in Test Match cricket.
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However, Clarke's focus needs to stay in the present and that begins by acknowledging and embracing the capacity crowds and recognising there will be plenty of Aussie supporters to ease the tensions and celebrate their positive play.
Many of the team will have played league cricket, county cricket or been on Australia A tours and should be familiar with the playing conditions and intricacies of the crowd behavior.
There should be no surprise in that regard for any of the team and Michael Clarke needs to reinforce to all that they must enjoy and relax in the way they play their cricket. It will be reassuring for the captain to have a coach in Darren Lehmann whose DNA is encoded with an excess of fun games.
Many captains place an undue emphasis on the outcome of the toss and Clarke must convey an attitude of it doesn't matter what we do first so long as we do it with purpose and intent.
The first session of the first Test will often set the tone for the whole series, so it is essential that his team is switched on from ball one and that they play without fear or hesitation.
A team will be a reflection of its leader and as such, Clarke needs to be energised without being over the top, focused but also open to improvisation, but above all, controlled and authoritative under pressure.
Pick your Australia XI for the first Ashes Test.
Often a team will target the opposing captain or premier batsman in the hope of wounding their spearhead, which often has a domino effect on the whole team. Australia has a golden opportunity to accomplish both by honing in on Alistair Cook, a relative newcomer to captaincy but without doubt one of the best batsman in the world.
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Back in 1989 we developed a strategy against Graham Gooch where we employed two short mid-wickets to encourage him to play across the line, to hit the ball towards the gap at square leg.
Consequently Terry Alderman trapped him numerous times LBW and more significantly wore him down mentally to the point he made himself unavailable towards the end of the series, which signaled a significant victory for our planning and execution.
What we also did well back in 1989, and must be emulated by Clarke's men, is to play the 'Aussie way'.
This means backing yourself in all situations, attacking rather than retracting, exuding positive body language, hustle when running between the wickets, exhibiting energy in the field and batting and bowling in partnerships.
They must display an element of 'mongrel' in the play and not back down when confronted. They must claim the high ground and put their flag well and truly in the turf.
Key men at Clarke's disposal here are Pattinson, Siddle, Watson and Haddin, who are all capable of dishing it out but crucially backing up with performance.
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Clarke will need to have players capable of the X factor in the field, who can turn a game with an individual piece of brilliance and it is here we may have an edge in Warner and Smith, presuming they both play.
Catching was the defining factor in our '89 Ashes 4-0 victory and again I believe the side that fields the best will win the series.
Catching in the cordon will be critical to success, especially at first slip where the captain really excels, and along with Haddin and Watson, they may alone hold the key to victory.
Back in 1989 we began the series by being labelled the worst touring team ever to contest the Ashes, but what these experts hadn't factored in was the unbreakable team bond that we formed as we journeyed up and down the motorways.
Each victory gave us strength and belief but the number one factor for all of us was the enjoyment we got from seeing our mates succeed and the notion that the team always came before the individual. =
If Michael Clarke can help cultivate this attitude then he may well hold that little urn aloft, not once but twice in the coming months.
* Steve Waugh's book, The Meaning Of Luck, will be released next month. Log on to stevewaughbooks.com.au for more information.
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