Who can blame him?

It really is just a sign that cricket in Australia is catching up with other sports.

At the same time, David Warner and Andrew Symonds have been included on the back of one decent innings in many starts.

In short, on form one would have to choose Ferguson ahead of D Hussey, Symonds and Warner. Which of these three to leave out? It wouldn’t really bother me.

Brett Lee returns before he has proven anything? I guess there are 4 other fast bowlers if this goes wrong.

Otherwise the squad is OK.

1.5 mistakes out of 15 is pretty good by the standards of our selectors!

Maybe the ACB is trying to boganise the Australian cricket team, with Clarke and Andrew Symonds, he of the limited vocabulary, in order to broaden its appeal?

The psychologist’s appointment has been booked, by the way…

The Australian T20 squad for the WC has been named this afternoon, and Geoff can rest easy that Clarke has held his place, despite the apparently less than “ideal preparation”:

Ricky Ponting (c), Michael Clarke (v-c), Nathan Bracken, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, David Hussey, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Peter Siddle, Andrew Symonds, David Warner, Shane Watson.

Brett McKay nailed it earlier… repeat and rinse what he said

This will possibly send Brett to the psychologist’s couch, because a few weeks ago he wrote of me: “Greg, I mean this in the nicest possible way, but do you ever tire of being the voice of reason?!?!” And now here he is imitating me!

The only place in which I strongly agree with Geoff is where he wrote:

“The final match of the UAE tour was only four days later, so it is hard to fathom why the vice captain, cum stand in captain, would not be participating in a finale of 20 overs…. This might sound a tad left field as a suggestion, but by playing the final game of the tour, such as a Twenty20 match, that might be the ideal preparation for an international 20 over tournament.”

This is all true. However we don’t know exactly what’s going on in Clarke’s private life – how is his father’s health? (had cancer last year), when is his marriage to Lara?, and so on.

I am not suggesting that these things are any of our business. Rather, I am just saying that there may be a perfectly good reason for Clarke to be given a 4-day early mark. As Brett said, this match is hardly one of great importance for Australian cricket.

All of this discussion is essentially around one key point “how has the Aussie cricketing elite made most of us think they are flogs?”….It saddens me to say I have very little interest in Cricket anymore.

The chip on the shoulder, arrogant, child like spoilt brat attitude of Ponting and co – Sunglasses worn in the airport terminal (do they think they are rock stars) while refusing children’s autograph requests – the inability of selectors to make genuine decisions against the bias power brokers…the list goes on but things like this make me actually dislike members of my own national team…Sad isn’t it? but I know I am not alone.

but only one of them is touted as a leader of one of the worlds most successful pro sporting teams….all I am saying is it goes to show the mindset of the bloke.

And what’s with the cheap shots?? What does hair styling and choice of transport really have to do with this artcile??

By the way, you mention Haddin’s “leading” in the one day series, with him opening the batting. I’d be more interested in your thoughts – as a cricket commentator – on some of Haddin’s “soft” dismissals this series, which are starting to become monotonous in their regularity. How many times should someone hit straight catches to mid-on or mid-off before they might consider some remedial work??

Holdens all around.

The joke is that Mr Clark doesnt realise the massive drop in values of all Super cars, and in particular, poorly built, idiosyncratic, temperamental Aston Martins. Oh, and completely tax deductible, NOT! Despite his massive earnings, he still cant afford it. He must have a very small “you know what” and feels that he has to placate Lara with a car. Hope she doesnt have a bingle in it!!!

Haircuts are a different story. Their “damage” can undone in a month or two.

Earrings leave a hole for ever visible for all to see. Ads like the bonds ad where he puts a ball down the front of his jocks last forever. Again, he must have a very small “you know what”!!!

It must have riled sponsors last season,when Clarke appeared in an advertisement ,
hair all faux ,just got out of bed teenager,a clutching a youth image, albeit costing
$200 a pop for a stylelist, to appear live on TV with his head just about shaved.

What do other cultures make of Australians that adopt centuries old Asian symbols
they cannot relate to, and have them tattood on their arm or kneck. What would we
think of a Japanese person with a tatoo on their kneck saying,’You bloody beauty’

I asked a Chinese friend of mine about an intricate tattoo on a young Australian lady
and he told me it meant , ‘No MSG’. Perhaps Clarke could get one reading , ‘No LBW’