Ever since he rollicked into Test cricket with a sumptuous 151 on debut in Bangalore four-and-a-half years ago, Michael Clarke has been pencilled in as a future Test captain.

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The marking is now underlined in bold after Clarke, on the eve of his 27th birthday, was named as Ricky Ponting’s heir apparent.

With Adam Gilchrist retired, Clarke will act as deputy on the Australian tour of the West Indies next month and is now set to become Australia’s 42nd Test captain.

“Every young cricketer has dreams to play for Australia, number one, and to be vice-captain or captain of your country,” Clarke said.

“I’m certainly honoured. It’s a fantastic opportunity and I’m looking forward to continuing to learn as much as I can from Ricky Ponting.”

These are heady days for Clarke, who went down on one knee in New York’s Central Park last week and got the answer he wanted when he asked swimwear model Lara Bingle to marry him.

“I’m obviously rapt with life at the moment,” he said. “It has been amazing.”

Clarke’s journey to his current blissful state has not been without its speed bumps.

Little more than a year after his debut he was dumped from the Test side and told to go back to the nursery of state cricket and tighten his technique.

He did just that, and while he still retains his sparkling strokeplay and infectious exuberance on the field, Clarke now shows a maturity in both his cricket and his off-field demeanour.

He recently knocked back the chance of making some fast money in the Indian Premier League, saying he preferred to spend time fishing with his father Les, who was diagnosed with Hodgkins disease 12 months ago.

Clarke is aware that his appointment will not be met uncritically in parts of the cricket world, not least among the Indian players who were openly antagonistic during their recent tour of Australia.

His appointment might also miff supporters of 32-year-old West Australian Mike Hussey, who led Australia – not very successfully – on a brief tour of New Zealand last year and impresses everyone with his character and knowledge of the game.

“I’m sure there are plenty of people who are going to have questions and probably have their own opinion on me getting this opportunity,” said Clarke, who vowed to prove he was worthy of the job.

Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said the clincher was Clarke’s sure-footed handling of the Australian Twenty20 side last season.

“While we had some very strong candidates within the current team, including Michael Hussey, we had no hesitation in recommending Michael Clarke for the position,” Hilditch said.

“We were thrilled with his performances as captain during the two Twenty20 games and believe he has outstanding leadership credentials.”

The Test squad, which includes emerging talents Ben Hilfenhaus, Ashley Noffke, Beau Casson and Brad Haddin, continues the generational change of recent years.

Of the 16 chosen for Australia’s watershed Ashes tour in 2005, only seven remain, and they include Haddin, who has yet to play a Test and Simon Katich, who was dropped after that series and is only now recalled to the side after a record-breaking Pura Cup season.

Katich’s triumphant Blues outfit provides eight of the 15 in the Test squad, the most from any state to make an Australian touring team since 1926, when NSW provided nine of a 16-man touring party to England.

Clarke foresees an important role for wrist-spinners Stuart MacGill and left-armer Beau Casson, the baby of the team at 25.

“I think spin bowling will play a massive part in the tour,” he said.

“MacGill has been a fantastic bowler for Australia for a long time so I think he’s going to play a big part. I know he likes touring the West Indies. I know he likes those conditions to bowl in.”

MacGill, now 37, was Australia’s most effective bowler in the last Caribbean tour in 2003, with 20 wickets at an average of 34 in the four Tests.

He regains his place after making a strong recovery from wrist surgery that forced him to miss most of the 2007-08 international season.

MICHAEL JOHN CLARKE (NSW)
Born: Sydney, April 2, 1981
Test debut: v India, Bangalore Oct 2004 (scored 151)

Batting record
Played Inn NO Runs Highest S/R 100s 50s Av
Tests: 33 50 6 2044 151 46.45 6 8 56.18
ODIs: 132 116 27 3920 130 81.47 3 29 44.04

© AAP 2012

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