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Michael Clarke: Very talented, but completely tone deaf

17th October, 2016
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Michael Clarke is the most polarising Australian captain in history. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
Expert
17th October, 2016
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Last night on 60 Minutes, Michael Clarke gave another Oscar-winning performance of milking the media with a combination of laughter and tears.

No Australian Test captain since World War II has polarised the fans more than Clarke.

He’s the only one in 26 who have held the highest appointment in the land after the Prime Minister to have been covered in tattoos, dyed his hair, and driven a Ferrari.

He was involved in an ugly dressing room incident with Simon Katich, lumped his vice-captain Shane Watson in a group that were a “tumour” in the team, and missed the vast majority of an ODI series in New Zealand to return home to break off his engagement to Lara Bingle.

And Clarke explained it all away with “I haven’t done anything wrong, criticise all you like, I just did it my way”.

Yet the same cricketer is the fourth most successful Australian Test batsman in history.

Ricky Ponting shows the way with 13,378 runs at 51.85 that included 41 tons and 62 half-centuries, and a career high 257.

Allan Border – 11,174 at 50.56 – 27/63 – 205.

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Steve Waugh – 10,927 at 51.56 – 32/50 – 200.

And Clarke – 8,643 at 49.10 – 28/27 – 329*.

But the quote of the night was Clarke’s “I couldn’t care less if I was captain”.

“Seriously?”, was reporter Allison Langdon’s shocked reaction.

“I was appointed Ricky Ponting’s vice-captain which automatically meant I was the next captain.

“But I didn’t seek the captaincy”.

Langdon’s handling of the interview was superb. Not once did she butt in on a Clarke answer, a welcome change from the vast majority of current sporting and political interviewers who have made butting in a media sickness.

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Having said that, it’s a pity Langdon didn’t follow up the “didn’t seek the captaincy” quote with, “Why didn’t you knock back the captaincy like Kim Hughes did?”

Another Clarke quote was extraordinary.

When asked if his team respected him, Clarke answered in the affirmative.

There’s little doubt the team respected Clarke’s proven talent, but that doesn’t mean they respected the man.

The inevitable Phillip Hughes tragedy surfaced, and so did the tears. They were genuine; the two were close.

But there was no mention of Clarke’s signing with the Channel Nine commentary team this summer. We can expect viewers to be hit with Clarke’s opinion about what Steve Smith’s doing wrong as captain, contrasted by what Clarke would do.

More polarisation, but that’s the nature of the beast.

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As a direct result, radio ratings will rise as Channel Nine viewers turn down the sound.

Will Michael Clarke ever try to change his image to his detractors, or will he remain committed to just doing it his way?

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