Michael Clarke at the end of the first day of the the Australia vs Pakistan, third test match at Bellerive Oval, Tasmania, Jan 14th, 2010. AAP image/Richard Jupe.
It has now been confirmed that Michael Clarke left the tour of New Zealand to return home and comfort his fiancée, Lara Bingle, who is involved in the nude photo scandal engulfing the press. But the question must be asked: was this an appropriate decision from a player earmarked as the next Test captain?
Yes, Bingle has undoubtedly suffered from an unacceptable invasion of her privacy following the release of the photos – this much we cannot deny.
However, and I argue this point for the sake of the debate surrounding Clarke’s future as captain, people who chase fame so fervently, seek publicity through their personal lives and rely so heavily on the tabloid media to fuel their careers (Bingle has allegedly pocketed a whopping $200,000 for an interview and photo shoot with Woman’s Day magazine!) must expect these types of scandals and media interest when they are sullied in such a way.
Clarke, meanwhile, has been happy to ride the celebrity wave together with Bingle, appearing in saucy advertising campaigns and on red carpets. They have built an image around their relationship – the Posh and Becks of Australia (shudder).
We cannot know the state of mind Bingle is currently in (although she was well enough to flip the media the bird yesterday, the same media she is dependent upon for a career), but was it acceptable for Clarke to have gone running?
This wasn’t a family bereavement. This wasn’t a life-threatening crisis. This wasn’t a matter of huge urgency, as far as we can tell.
This was just a sorry saga involving irresponsible and immature adults, celebrity-hungry individuals with more money than tact and a media who turn such banality into stories we are meant to care about.
Yet Clarke, on the eve of a one-day international in the hotly contested Chappell-Hadlee series, left so quickly it has emerged that teammates didn’t even know he had gone.
These are the teammates who Clarke will captain in Tests – as seemed inevitable before his abandoning them – lead on the park, try to inspire and set an example for.
Captaincy is about commitment, sacrifice and example.
Clarke showed none of those qualities in leaving the team for these reasons, and we must ask if this is the type of player and if this is the type of image we really want from the next Australian Test captain?
Clarke faces a choice in the coming days: either return to New Zealand in time for the Test series, while still supporting his partner in her time of need, and reevaluating the ‘celebrity’ role he has so effortlessly assumed or stay in Australia and accept that his future as Test captain should be questioned if he continues to make such decisions.
The celebrity path inevitably involves more soap operas and trashy scandals, and such disruptions and sideshows don’t gel with the added responsibilities, expectations and pressures of Test captaincy.
Clarke’s future as a possible Test captain should be at stake in the coming weeks.
Lolly
Guest
Watching him panic and running out, or trying to, his colleagues in the World twenty/20 final was far more telling than any personal 'issues' he may have. That was really quite revolting and I never want to see an Aus captain in that sort of state again.
The Farmer
Roar Rookie
The real problem here is that the appointment as captain is now seen as a career-long appointment. It soouldn't be. We should be prepared to change the captaincy whenever the need (or an opportunity) arises. We keep talking about Clarke as "the next captain" when we should be talking aboout his as "a future captain". I don't think he fits into the former categgory but I'm prepared to put him in the second category.
The Answer
Guest
Nice one Springs. Dare I say it most people bagging Clarke can be summed up in a few words "long term singles".
amused
Guest
adrian, this is a watershed moment for me. I agree with you 100% on this. you are spot on and this is great writing about this subject. ( it's akin to me agreeing with miranda devine! )
ThelmaWrites
Guest
I used to watch cricket when the WAGs were Lynette Waugh, Jane McGrath, Simone Warne, etc.
OldManEmu
Guest
Agree with the prowler. Clarke is not the type of guy I'd like to sit down and have a meal with and it seems the consensus here is that I am not alone. But so what? Only one person here has made the point that for the last four seasons he has been THE most consistent batsmen in the team. So he has a diamond in his ear and some ink on his arm, and he appears in a few advertisements and he has a girlfriend who puts it out there and shakes it all about. Yeah, all of that -makes him a bit of a tool nmy book sure. But I dont recall him behaving badly on the field, I dont recall him behaving badly off the field - what I do recall is him scoring a truckload of runs, fielding well and taking the odd very imprtant wicket. So he leaves a tour midway through cos his gal is having a few issues - hey it is only New Zealand.
Springs
Roar Guru
A lot of people in here seem to be absolute idiots who take a 'work befoe everything else' mentality. I read one comment where they said 'if you want to be captain of the Australian cricket team you better be prepared to put the cricket team first', and one which said 'if next time you have a fight with your girlfriend your work wouldn’t mind you scurrying home for a week at almost zero notice'. That's completely ridiculous. Firstly, this isn't about a fight between Clarke and his girlfriend, and secondly, stuff work. I would always put my family first. If work doesn't understand well they can get stuffed. It's this kind of mentality that made the world so business-orientated in the first place. If Clarke wants to be with Bingle, than let him, he obviously cares about her more than you people, that of course know both of them well enough to comment on their inner personality, would know. If people on this thread were in a position for a promotion at work, but their partner was in trouble at the same time, chose work over family, then you are a worthless, heartless, terrible human being. Great robot though...
prowling panther
Roar Rookie
i dont get why people hate clarke so much. He really comes across to me as a decent guy and as someone noted above, he'd be a d***head if he wasnt with his girl in her 'time of need'-obviously bingle isnt a good judge of what is important... the only fault of clarke is probably getting hooked up with her in the first place and why is it that people find her beatiful -she reminds me of a sardine for some reason -she'll chase Clarke for the publicity and money and then move on to the next poor soul
B.C Queenslander
Guest
Actually Redb, it should be Markson who gets amputated, I can't believe that he has escaped virtually unscathed at this point. In my opinion he is the real villain in this pathetic fiasco. Who would want Max Markson as their agent after this?
bruski
Roar Pro
I agree Timmuh, I really dont care for MC or LB but to be truthful, is it really that bad that he skips some meaningless and endless ODI matches. No issue as far as I am concered.
Timmuh
Guest
It as a few limited overs games that he missed. Big whoop. She's obviously not coping, and he missed a few meaningless games to help her out. He did the right thing as far as I can tell. If he had walked out on a Test match, that would be something different, but a limited overs game - good on him.
The Answer
Guest
I think most blokes are just jealous of Clarke because he is dating a cracking looking bird and plays cricket for Oz and in all likely hood they haven't come close to achieving either. For god's sake it's a series against the Black Caps and about the 167th series this year, who cares! Honestly, if a bloke thinks his missus has issues more important than the pay tv filler then good luck to him.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Richard - It is a fair call by Al that he is not running for the job, and I haven't read anything about Al's self promotion in the No Idea or Wymmins Vacuous Day. On Shane Warne, he was never not a team man and he treated the game and each match with a fiercely competitive passion. He was an A grade dill on numerous occassions off field and, for his sins, we did not see his knowledge of the game and marvellous tactical skills, serving as an Australian Captain. His Captains made sure they were never too far away from him on the field though! There is no doubt he was a central influence on the team and a driver of excellence in their cricket. I've watched him mature and contribute magnificently post retirement. Talk about a late developer! He could rightly feel wronged if this other much less able bloke is afforded more leniency than him.
Kman
Guest
I just don't understand why so many people hate Clarke. What has he done to deserve it? Yes, he isn't the typical 'aussie' cricketer, and has a model as a wife, but how does that make him a bad person? People need to stop taking in first impressions. He started his cricketing career at a young age, and I admit I didnt like him at first either. His blonde-tipped hair and earings didnt represent true Australian Cricket. He was a young man who wanted everything. However, throughout the years, he has slowly become more mature, especially since he was handed the vice-captaincy. He has settled down now, engaged and happily in love, has a shaved head and got rid of his stupid earings. He has matured in his cricket aswell, once a batsmen who thought every ball should be hit for 6, now a batsmen who scores his runs elegantly and patiently. He has changed, and I believe we need to give the NEW Michael Clarke a fair go.
bever fever
Guest
I have not read the full thread, but IMO Clarke feels disempowered by this and therefore must confront Fev and demand some answers, like a man would. As the future Australian cricket captain he must show some backbone and demand to know what happened, of course the only problem is that if he rang Fev, the number would be engaged as Fev would be busy SMSing to his mates.
bever fever
Guest
Redb said "Applying some materaility may help the Clarke knockers". I dont think it's about Clarkes knockers.
Midfielder
Guest
Gotta fall on the side of he has done the right thing... I respect his decision and respect him more for making it...
Axel V
Guest
It's only ODI's, no-one cares about them and this form of the game will be dead soon. I get the impression that most people on here questioning Clarke's actions, never liked him in the first place. The whole debacle is a joke and most probaly self fueled, however, NEVER EVER underestimate the effects of mental health. If Clarke went home because Bingle seriously needed him, then he is a good man. I hope that most people wouldn't ditch their longtime girlfriend and soon to be wife, somone they love just for a meaningless game. However, still confused as to what Brendon Fevola taking a nude picture of Bingle who had just come out of the shower has to do with me? who cares? why are we hearing about this? what about the melbourne victory? :) And what's worse? a few of Fevola's pathetic buddies and internet desperates seeing the photo? or 22 million people seeing it?
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
If one knows and loves their cricket, and remembers the fine leadership qualities brought to the job by the extraordinarily small number of men privileged to be Australian Captain, this bloke is demonstrably unworthy of the job. What he is choosing to do off the field and his distorted priorities will have caused deep disquiet, division, ridicule and disrespect amongst the players, no matter what the public announcements say about support. These are the 20-odd most competitive blokes in their field in the country. Individually and collectively they’ll depose him if he is not wiser, better, stronger, tougher, and more committed than them. Kim Hughes, a fine batsman, was the head office choice years back and the players utterly destroyed him. On the Pigeon Scale of Personal Family Crisis and How to Manage it with Thoughtfulness, Maturity and Dignity this bloke rates ... welll he obviously didn't pay much attention during that lesson.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
The only mental health problems I would expect to see here are: "Oh my God, my widdle brain hurts sooooo much when I look at this week's bank balance - it's awesome. I was like ... Oh my God - awesome! I don't have a job or anything but it's awesome! But I just don't know how it disappears so quickly. Like. Does my bum look, you know, big in this?" Suggesting these Generation Facebook dills have mental problems is an offence to the serious work of the likes of Jeff Kennett, who took up a most difficult lead role in improving public knowledge on behalf of genuine patients.