Michael Clarke will lead Australia when Ricky Ponting retires and will finish his career as a respected and successful skipper. The chaos of the past couple of weeks will not hinder this in any way. Rather, it genuinely begins Clarke’s path to the post of captain.
Just like Ricky Ponting’s wake up call came at the end of an ugly night out in Kings Cross all those years ago, Clarke’s came during the debacle that followed his decision to return from New Zealand to deal with problems in his relationship.
The factors were different, but the results will be similar.
Both Ponting and Clarke were identified from a very young age as outstanding cricketers. Neither will work a day in his life. Both will finish their careers as late-30 somethings with millions of dollars and the rest of their lives to do as they please.
The flipside to that privilege is a disconnection from reality, no matter how one might try to keep one’s feet on the ground.
Ponting had little comprehension of his responsibilities as a young batsman in the Australian team when he copped a black eye that night at the Cross.
Clarke, too, has been living in a dreamworld since the age of 23, when he scored 151 on debut in Bangalore.
I spoke to Clarke when he was on the way home after that knock. He was innocent, gleeful, cracking jokes, telling stories and laughing like a kid in a toy store. He was always supremely confident and friendly.
But after living in the barely sustainable goldfish bowl of the Australian cricket team, being adored, feted, mollycoddled and paid a fortune – especially during a period of unprecedented controversy and greed in the game – things finally got out of hand. A reality check was inevitable.
And it has arrived.
Clarke was warned that his relationship with Lara Bingle would become a sideshow. He was happy to go with it. But if you are famous and keen to show off your private life when all’s going well, you can’t expect to shut the door when things turn awry and demand everyone accept your behest.
Australian team media manager Lachy Patterson’s decree to a throng of educated and experienced journalists at Clarke’s media conference on Wednesday that if the wrong questions get asked ‘‘we’ll walk away’’ was embarassing. Clarke should have answered questions.
And he certainly didn’t need a media manager to hold his hand.
Sure, you can’t help love. And, he really did love Lara. But Clarke was also warned that buying a $6 million penthouse right on Bondi Beach (with huge windows) was hardly going to afford him privacy.
He could have helped that.
He didn’t have to get tattoos, advertise underpants or buy a ferrari (which his manager strongly advised him to sell straight away, advice Clarke acted upon).
He didn’t have to organise his engagement party on the same night as the NSW presentation, nor flaunt expensive diamonds and cars, nor get into fights with teammates, all of which have made people question what this bloke is all about.
You suspect Clarke won’t make such poor decisions again after what he’s just been through. You would hope that he’d settle down and begin a new chapter in his career, exhibiting the type of maturity needed to become a respected and admired public figure.
You would anticipate that people like Ponting and Clarke rarely make mistakes twice. They learn, perfect and move on.
Australians forgive those who screw up but get up, dust themselves off and get on with the job. Clarke will do just that and he will be applauded for keeping his dignity during this ordeal, irrespective of whether it was he who invited it.
He has nothing to apologise for, but hopefully will learn more about humility and class.
You would hope that this will be the corner around which he turns from wide-eyed youngster living the fantasy, to a respectable, measured and learned leader fit to lead the nation’s most famous sporting team.
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