- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Michael Clarke stunned the cricket world when he said he might have played his last game after tearing his right hamstring in the first Test against India at Adelaide.
It was a new injury in addition his previously torn left hamstring, and his chronic back problem.
Since then Steve Smith was appointed to captain the baggy greens for the remaining three Tests at the Gabba, MCG and SCG.
In the meantime, Clarke underwent surgery in Melbourne on his new injury, which has been rated a success.
So much so, Clarke has lobbed up as Channel Nine’s newest commentator at the current MCG Test, and will be on duty again for next week’s SCG Test.
Last night, Tim Gilbert reported Clarke has described Smith’s captaincy at the Gabba as outstanding, but he’s looking forward to taking back the captaincy in the New Year.
Hold the phone.
First of all there’s no guarantee Clarke will be fit enough to even play in the early part of 2015, and even if he passes a fitness test, he will be so short of match play he would be a liability.
That’s the cold truth, but the situation is far deeper than that.
Former Test skipper Ian Chappell was the first to make it very clear Steve Smith is now the Australian captain, and should remain so even if Clarke makes a comeback.
I totally agree with that suggestion, and every day more and more cricket fans are convinced Steve Smith is, and will be, the better captain.
The 25-year-old is a breath of fresh air. He’s relaxed, and even in these early days, he’s proved he was born to lead.
Since he took over, Smith has scored 133, a run-out 28, and yesterday’s unbeaten 72 to take his calendar year Test total to 1012 runs at an average of 84.33.
Included in that total are four centuries, and five half-centuries to be the sixth highest run-getter in the world.
Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara has scored 1486 at 82.56 in 2014, with a top score of 319 among four centuries and nine half-centuries.
Pakistan’s Younis Khan scored 1213 at 75.81. A top score of 213 among six tons and two half-centuries.
Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Matthews with 1201, top score 160, with three tons and six half-centuries.
Kiwi skipper Brendan McCullum with 1164 at 72.75 and a top score of 302 among four centuries.
And teammate David Warner’s 1096 at 68.70, with a top score of 145 among six tons and three half-centuries.
So on the performance count, Smith is more than pulling his weight, and yesterday’s gritty batting came on top of one of the biggest sporting howlers of the year.
James Sherry was the MC at the MCG opening ceremony, introducing the two sides – “Please welcome the two sides, India captained by MS Dhoni, and Australia led by Michael Clarke”.
What rock has Sherry been hiding under for over a week?
The howler was highly embarrassing for Smith who had been looking forward to the biggest day of his life, leading Australian onto the mighty MCG in front of 50,000-plus fans.
Without doubt, one of the biggest days on the Australian sporting calendar.
To his credit, Smith showed no signs of being peeved as he heartily sung the national anthem. But he had every right to be filthy with the MC suit.
I couldn’t watch every ball yesterday, but I never heard the Channel Nine commentators, including Clarke, make an apology to Smith.
The howler was inexcusable and in poor taste.
That Steve Smith finished the day unbeaten on 72, says volumes for his right to lead the Australians.
Hopefully for the next decade.