With news that Australian captain Michael Clarke may miss the upcoming Test series against India due to a hamstring injury suffered in the first one day international against South Africa, I make this plea: Pup, please limit yourself to Test cricket.
When in form, Clarke is the nation’s best Test batsman. His Test average of over 50 and his two hundreds in the first two Tests in the most recent Ashes series, which helped set Australia up to regain the urn, prove as much.
Don’t get me wrong, Clarke is by no means a slouch in the one day format either, but his importance to the Test side is far more important.
Test cricket will always be the pinnacle of cricket. I enjoy the shots being played in the T20 format as much as anyone, but Test cricket still matters most.
Clarke, now 33, has suffered back injuries throughout his career and should be wrapped in cotton wool when not out scoring runs under the baggy green.
Anyone who has ever played the game can tell you it’s extremely tough on the body to bat at the best of times, let alone under all that padding, in 30 degree heat, with deliveries approaching 145 kilometres per hour coming at you.
It’s also fair to say that Clarke, in his 107 Tests, has been one of the best fieldsmen of the modern era. His great hands and quick reflexes have been used to take catches and save runs in close – not to mention the amount of overs Clarke has bowled, including his amazing figures of 6/9 against India.
If anyone deserves to have his feet up while the younger players run around the boundary late in the 50-over format, it is the Aussie Test captain.
With another Ashes series not too far away, we need Clarke fit and firing. It’s a shame he may miss the upcoming series with India, however I’d much rather him at full fitness against the old enemy.
There has been talk of Steve Smith being considered the next full-time Aussie captain. I hope this is an argument that isn’t required for a fair few years yet. The best way to ensure it is by saving Clarke for the biggest games of all – Test matches.
I would not begrudge Clarke a position in the World Cup squad early next year. In fact I hope he’s there contributing as always. That being said, come the close of the tournament, I hope Clarke sits back and focuses on retaining that precious little urn.
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