Clarke receives batting tips from 17-year-old

Out of form Michael Clarke received some free advice on batting from a 17-year-old during a press conference at Hobart's Bellerive Oval.

After the first few minutes of the conference, Daniel Brew mustered enough courage to express his feelings. "I've noticed something Michael, you're pushing at the ball too much. What are you going to do about that?," the boy from Geelong enquired.

Clarke, who is battling poor form over some time, managed to put up a happy face. "I'm pushing at the ball too much? You should be a batting coach," Clarke smiled.

"What do you think I should do about it?"

Brew, who is believed to possess necessary skills to be a potential future coach by his father, was audacious enough to respond, "not reach for it so much".

"Okay I'll try that today in the nets. Thank you," Clarke acknowledged with a smile.

The boy, who managed to evade the security staff to coach the batsman, could really hit the headlines if Clarke comes up with an impressive knock during the second ODI against England on Friday.

The right hander earlier defended his sluggish approach during the first one-dayer at Melbourne which saw the 29-year-old compile a painstaking 36 off 57 balls in a winning cause.

"It wasn't the easiest of conditions to walk out and just smack it," he said.

"Watto (Shane Watson who made 161 not out) was playing an amazing knock and my role was to get up the other end and try not to lose wickets, try to build a partnership.

"We put on a hundred-run partnership which helped us set up the game.

"If people want to see fours, sixes and wickets taken every ball, that's not international cricket," Clarke added.