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The darker side of Michael Clarke has surfaced

24th November, 2014
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Michael Clarke. (AFP PHOTO / LUIGI BENNETT)
Expert
24th November, 2014
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Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke has defied his chairman of selectors, Rod Marsh, and his boss Cricket Australia as his hamstring injury rages on.

Marsh said Monday if Clarke isn’t running by Wednesday, then it can be safely assumed he won’t be playing in the Test match against India at the Gabba on December 4.

Cricket Australia has told Clarke he’s to play in a two-day game on Friday and Saturday against India in Adelaide to prove his fitness.

Clarke has virtually told both Marsh and Cricket Australia to get stuffed, he’s playing the second of two days for Wests against Parramatta in the Sydney district competition next Saturday.

“Over the last 10, 12 years I’ve been playing for Australia, I don’t think I’ve ever walked onto a field not being 100 per cent fit to perform.

“I would hope with my experience that the selectors, my teammates, Cricket Australia staff (all) respect my opinion,” was Clarke’s explanation.

Self-indulgent crap.

The only right Clarke has is to do as he’s told like every other first class cricketer in the country.

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Clarke will never be bigger than the game, no matter what form he’s in – and right now his form has a huge question mark over it, let alone his fitness.

In his last 17 Test digs, Clarke has scored an unbeaten 161 against South Africa at Cape Town last March, and 47 against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi last month.

The other 15 Test digs in order – 22, 24, 23, 10, 6*, 10, 6, 23, 17*, 19, 1, 0, 2, 3 and 5.

Nothing to write home about, or reason to be so confident with those stats.

But Clarke reckons one afternoon in grade cricket will convince him if he’s fit enough for a five-day Test.

Delusional.

If Cricket Australia was fair dinkum about advising Clarke, you would think they would have told him to play for NSW against South Australia at the SCG starting today, just like Brad Haddin will do.

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If Clarke can last a four-day Shield game, that’s far more conclusive than either a two-day friendly in Adelaide, or an afternoon in Sydney grade.

And none of those playing alternatives even touch on the hamstring injury. For those of you who have never suffered a hammie tear, let me tell you it’s no fun.

Not only does your leg go as black as the ace of spades, but running is totally out of the question, it’s a physical impossibility. Even walking, especially upstairs, is a painful exercise.

And let’s not forget the fact Clarke has had a hamstring tear three times in six weeks according to him, or three times in 12 weeks according to some pundits.

Whatever is more accurate only says one thing – Michael Clarke will be a liability for the Gabba, even if gets through Saturday afternoon.

He can’t have a runner, so what does he do when batting? Will he turn easy threes into hard-run singles?

Totally unacceptable. If it wasn’t so serious, this whole circus would be laughable.

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Let’s talk realities, there’s no way the skipper will be fit enough for the Gabba, so get on with it, Rod Marsh, and name his replacement with Haddin as captain.

And while you’re at it Rod, how about an explanation as to why expressman Pat Cummins is not in the Test squad, nor playing for NSW?

Please don’t tell us he’s going to be another Phil Hughes, or Usman Khawaja, just to make daily net appearances instead of playing?

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