Yesterday I bumped into Stuart Clark, one of the heroes of the 2006-2007 whitewash of England, the last time that Ashes feat was accomplished by the baggy greens
Clark, now 38, looked super-fit, and very very relaxed.
“After 20 years of worrying about performances as a player, and then as an administrator worrying about crowds and behind the scenes, now I’m working in a lawyer’s office and having a great time,” he told me.
“I can go to the cricket these days just to watch, and not have a worry in the world.”
But Clark was a major worry to England in that series, he out-metronomed ‘Mr Metronome’, Glenn McGrath.
Clark captured 26 wickets at a miserly 17.03 apiece – McGrath 21 at 23.90. Throw in Shane Warne 23 at 30.34 and Brett Lee 20 at 33.20, and between them they stitched up England good and properly.
It’s interesting comparing that Australian side with the current one, as they ride roughshod over the old enemy.
In 2006 Australia won the first Test by 277, the current side by 381.
In the second Test, ’06 won by six wickets, the current side by 218.
And the third Test in ’06 by 206, the current side by 150.
Comprehensive wins across the board, with Mitchell Johnson taking the Stuart Clarke role, and Ryan Harris the McGrath position.
But with all due respects to the current side, it doesn’t bristle with legends, or potential legends.
In 06-07, there were plenty – Matt Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, and McGrath.
It was an awesome side and would have fielded the same XI for all five Tests had Damien Martyn not suddenly retired after the second Test to be replaced by Andrew Symonds.
This current side could well go through the five Tests without a change, providing injury doesn’t rear its ugly head.
David Warner, Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, Clarke, Steve Smith, George Bailey, Brad Haddin, Johnson, Peter Siddle, Harris, and Nathan Lyon look set, and settled.
But they have some pretty heavy duty batting averages to compare with 2006-07.
Mike Hussey – 458 at 91.60.
Ponting – 576 at 82.28.
Clarke – 389 at 77.80.
Symonds – 232 at 58.
Hayden – 413 At 51.62.
Warne – 196 at 49.
Gilchrist – 229 at 45.
Langer – 303 at 43.28.
Having said that, the current side cannot do anything more than beat what the opposition selects.
And right now England has a hat full of selection problems.
Not that Stuart Clark cares, he’s just enjoying the Australian form reversal as much as anyone else who is an Australian.
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