Michael Clarke is not a Twenty20 batsman
Roar Rookie By Henry Arkwright, 6 May 2010 Henry Arkwright is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- Cricket, IPL, Michael Clarke, Twenty20, VVS Laxman
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Australian cricketer Michael Clarke celebrates his century against India. AP Photo/Aman Sharma
Michael Clarke is now arguably Australia’s number one Test batsman, but he’s simply not suited to Twenty20 cricket. It’s painful to watch a touch player attempting ungainly slogs through mid-wicket. He needs to be put out of his misery.
Clarke is not the only batsman who has been brilliant at Test cricket, but found to be completely unsuited to the shortest form of the game.
India’s VVS Laxman is one of the most elegant batsmen in the world, but watching him hack the ball around in the IPL recently was like watching Pavarotti attempting to sing an AC/DC song.
It just wasn’t right.
A look at Clarke’s twenty20 record tells you all that you need to know: an average of 23 and a strike rate of 114 (well below average in Twenty20 cricket) after 31 international matches.
The alternative?
Well, Cameron White has been Victoria’s captain for the past six years, has a good cricket brain, and is the prototype of a successful Twenty20 batsman: big, strong, and capable of hitting the ball out of the park consistently.
He’s more than capable of doing the job.
Australia’s selectors have identified Clarke as the future Test captain, and they’re probably right. Despite the Bingle bungle, Clarke remains Australia’s best long term candidate to become captain full-time when Ricky Ponting finally calls it a day.
However, when it comes to Twenty20, he’s just not up to the mark.
The Crowd Says (6) | Page 1 of Comments
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- Cricket, IPL, Michael Clarke, Twenty20, VVS Laxman
May 6th 2010 @ 1:43am
Jordan McArdle said | May 6th 2010 @ 1:43am | Report comment
i totally agree mate, i think Michael Clarke is more of a test/one day player. T20 captaincy should go to Cameron White for sure, he has been an exception captain for Victoria, and is a perfect candidate.
May 6th 2010 @ 11:12am
Republican said | May 6th 2010 @ 11:12am | Report comment
Nor is any other Ozzie batsman.
We do not have an agricultural culture re our batting, rather finesse is our claim to fame and that is why we are better at Test Cricket. Our ODI depth is quite healthy also.
You may as well give the Kangaroo League side a bat, I reckon they would do just as well, maybe even better in the game of chance i.e. T20.
Cheers
May 6th 2010 @ 9:57pm
Justin said | May 6th 2010 @ 9:57pm | Report comment
Warner, White, Smith? No, not good enough? Cant get it off the square those blokes…
Please…
May 6th 2010 @ 6:22pm
chris mackinnon said | May 6th 2010 @ 6:22pm | Report comment
australia’s record in the t20 world cup isnt good, at the moment how the cup is going right now, the weather is the leader at the moment with some dodgy pitches. Michael clarke will be the next australian test captain but for 20/20 its a totally different story, how many 20/20 games has clarke played at domestic level? not many how much experience does he have.
in a big game where high scores are made over 180 u need players not to score a run a ball but try to score nearly 4 a ball, clarke cant do that. cameron white should be captain and bat up the order instead of being wasted in the middle.
how come clarke struggles to play with his back at times missing test matches and one day games but seemingly can play a full tournament and he is even bowling come on,until we get selection of players right yeah we might win this cup, but its not because we picked a good team, its because other teams in the cup can handle the pressure .
May 9th 2010 @ 8:40am
jameswm said | May 9th 2010 @ 8:40am | Report comment
You’ve just worked that out, Henry?
Clarke should never have been there, but Republic you are dead wrong about us having no proper T20 batsmen. Watson and Warner are the most dynamic opening combination in the world (and should b our 50-over openers too), Dave Hussey is awesome, and Cam White is good as long as he gets his 5-10 balls to get his eye in (the others hit from the first ball). Then you’ve got free spirit Haddin and Smith and Johnson at about 8-9. That’s awesome batting and the Bangers aside, they’re killing it right now.
May 17th 2010 @ 10:07pm
Lolly said | May 17th 2010 @ 10:07pm | Report comment
As Pup has proved again and again in this tournament he can’t bat to save his life or the team in this format.
Really embarrassing in the final. Running out one of our real hitters then nurdling around as usual. Good grief.