Michael Clarke wants momentum from Champions Trophy to carry team into Ashes showdown Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke speaks at a press conference at Sydney International Airport shortly before leaving for England. Picture: AP/Rick Rycroft Source: AP AUSTRALIAN cricket captain Michael Clarke says success at the Champions Trophy one-day tournament would be a big filip for his side going into the Ashes. Clarke and several players left from different cities on Sunday bound for the United Kingdom to start an arduous campaign. While much of the attention has centred on the five-Test series starting in July and Australia's quest to regain the Ashes, Clarke is prioritising the Champions Trophy tournament being held in England and Wales through the first three weeks of June. "At this stage I haven't thought about the batting order for the Ashes, I haven't thought about their first XI for the Ashes," Clarke said at Sydney Airport. My focus is wholly and solely on this Champions Trophy tournament. Obviously the build-up and the talk is going to be about the Ashes, but for us as a team we're very focused on the Champions Trophy. We've got a really good squad and some good options to win the Champions Trophy and I'm confident if we can play our best we can have some success in this tournament. Clarke said he had no idea about where he would bat in the Test team, but would come in at No.4 in the one-day side. Ranked No.3 in one-day cricket, Australia have won the two most recent Champions Trophy tournaments and are determined to win the final one. Clarke nominated several contenders for the title. "Obviously England know the conditions so well," Clarke said. I think the conditions will probably suit the likes of South Africa, West Indies fast bowling attack. I think Pakistan has got a very good one-day team as well, so there's so many good one-day teams involved in this tournament. I think you have to be at your best from the first ball of the tournament. He hoped his captaincy tenure would not be defined by more than just the next few months, which contains back-to-back Ashes series as well as the Champions Trophy. "I've been captain for nearly two years, for me it's a huge opportunity, there's no doubt about," Clarke said. He wouldn't be drawn on talk Pakistan-born spinner Fawad Ahmed could be rushed into the Test squad if he received his Australian citizenship in time.