AUSTRALIA batsman Michael Clarke is confident the world champions are about to stand up and show their true worth against England today.
The Ashes tourists have endured a near-unthinkable run of bad form since they arrived in this country last month, and their four successive defeats - twice against England and once each against Bangladesh and Somerset - have coincided with a series of hiccups off the field too.
Ghosts haunting the team hotel in Chester-le-Street is the latest in a series of trials and tribulations which have included the theft of Clarke's cricket gear in Leicester and key all-rounder Andrew Symonds' de-selection from the shock defeat against Bangladesh because of his late-night drinking in Cardiff.
The Aussies could clearly be forgiven if they were starting to feel a little got at, but Clarke insists that is far from the case.
"All the boys are certainly up for it. We are sick of getting beaten and really looking forward to getting our first win on the board tomorrow," he said.
Kevin Pietersen's sensational hitting helped England win the first at Bristol last Sunday - the day after what Ricky Ponting rightly acknowledged as his worst defeat as Australia captain, against international minnows Bangladesh.
Clarke may or may not lose sleep because of Pietersen but he confirmed he will not be spooked by the Lumley Castle hotel ghosts who reportedly perturbed some of the touring party earlier this week.
"We got told the castle was haunted when we arrived, and all the boys have been having a bit of a laugh about it," he explained..
