We loved the showmanship and brashness of Shane Warne just as much as we admired the grit and determination of Steve Waugh, and the all-round nice guy qualities of Pat Rafter.
This begs the question, why has Michael Clarke – as pleasant and genial a sportsman as you are likely to meet – not yet captured the heart of the Australian public and endeared himself to the masses?
There is no doubting Clarke’s prodigious talent as a cricketer. In the past few years he has emerged as one of our premier batsmen, and the numbers reflect Australia’s growing reliance on Clarke as the rock of the middle order. Having been dropped from the Test side in 2005, he didn’t so much remodel as re-jig the nuances of his game and emerged a better, if less spectacular player.
Clarke is all but assured of taking over the captaincy of the national side in all forms of the game once Ricky Ponting departs, and as captain of the Twenty20 outfit he has shown himself to be an enthusiastic and capable on-field leader.
While Clarke goes from strength to strength on the field, his off-field image is lagging by comparison. There is a sense in backyards and bars across Australia that Clarke is too tightly managed and lacks a sense of authenticity. In the past fortnight the conjecture over Clarke’s popularity – or lack thereof – within the Australian cricketing ranks has become a talking point as well.
It is true that the ability to captain a cricket side does not rest on popularity within that side alone, but the whispers are growing that Clarke is genuinely disliked by several of his teammates, which doesn’t auger well for a future Test captain.
One can’t help but feel that all is not as it seems with the Test vice-captain.
Clarke’s problem is this: On the one hand he conveys an everyman appeal – photo shoots playing backyard cricket in his boardies, a keenness to discuss his working class Western Sydney roots, constant talk of the team over the individual.
On the other hand Clarke’s displays of the good life demonstrate he is very clearly not your average man. His penchant for expensive cars and clothes has been well documented, as was his engagement and subsequent split with model Lara Bingle.
More Beckham than Boonie, the image that comes across of Clarke is one of a contrived persona too heavily imbued with media savvy. At times when interviewed Clarke sounds more like a politician than cricketer, all buzz words and speech laden with more spin than Warne and Muralitharan combined.
A torch bearer for the modern paradigm of sportsman he may be, it seems that to avoid being pigeon-holed Clarke has tried to fill every possible mould we might have of what our sports stars should be. In his attempts to cater to the public’s every possible desire of which qualities our heroes should possess, Clarke comes across as none of them.
Clarke’s skill as a cricketer will ensure he has plenty of years left in the public eye, and no doubt the public’s understanding of him will continue to develop. In the meantime, Clarke should worry less about how he is perceived, put the media training to one side, and let the fullness of his personality come through.
Till then, sports fans will continue to wonder, “Who is the real Michael Clarke?”
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Well while I admire Clarke's talent at times , his persona projects conflicting images too much for ANYONE'S liking, the apparently sudden switches between "everyman-sensitive new-age guy" to "arrogant, get -me-if-you-can attitude" doesn't sit well with a thoughtful public with a long memory . Also with the male side of that public , the vacuous but ever-present theme of public -exposed cuckold! cuckold! cuckold! stays in the mind long after the event . :-)
Mark
Guest
John Howard was right for once! Pup is of a new generation and has yet to prove himself - unluckily for him he follows a long line of exceptional characters tracing back 25 years - a hard act to follow. Remember the days when the Oz team were walkovers? Eventually the selectors just decided to stick and stick with their best 11 - it worked - give the boy a break I say! great thread.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
Why would Warne have been in jail if he didn't play cricket?
Mike morris
Guest
I like Clarky. I didn't like Steve Waugh- good at sport but bad sportsman. I think Shane Waugh was lucky to be great at cricket otherwise he'd be in jail. And I'm putting this comment in because of the disgust I felt at the Australian captain being booed in Queensland. Everybody whinged he wasn't pulling his weight, he's booed and ended up killing it. Give him a break
Gregory
Guest
Given that Ponting will probably not retire this year and the selectors will not dare to sack him, there is time to closely scrutinize the performances of all senior players. The choice of captain should be based solely on performance and merit over the next year or two and not on marketability or money-making potential. If the selectors and administrators refuse to do this then they should be sacked. "While Clarke goes from strength to strength on the field" Michael Filosi, you have got to be joking! Have you seen his average over the past year? Why are so many of you cricket journalists so determined to worship at the Altar of Clarke? How about considering other better performing senior players for the captaincy? I've never seen another sportsperson so undeserving of so much support!
Michael Filosi
Roar Guru
Good point, I think you're onto something with that analysis Hutchoman.
Hutchoman
Roar Pro
Michael, Perhaps "irritating" is the right word. It's not necessarily anything you can put your finger on (or certainly not one single thing), but rather this culmination of factors that just wears you down until you can take no more. Imagine perhaps someone you know of personally who doesn't have any out and out character flaws but by accumulation of annoying habits, etc., etc., has simply reached that point where you can't stand to be around them any longer. This is very much the view of many Australian cricket fans on Clarke.
Michael Filosi
Roar Guru
Can't disagree with you there Bayman, plenty willing to voice their opinions on Clarke in this forum, which I think is great. Given all of the reasons I mention in the article, I'm not particularly shocked by the sentiments expressed here on what we all think of Clarke. Not sure what the answer is for Clarke to try and improve his popularity. Rightly or wrongly, not sure he cares very much about it anyway.
Bayman
Guest
Michael, Yes, maybe "bypass" is a little overstated but like any cartoonist it's the exaggerations which create the image. Certainly Clarke is not as well liked, or appreciated, as might be expected given his position and his record. But there is something which irritates. Maybe it's the third person speak when he does interviews. He never says anything outrageous but he does give the impression that he takes himself very seriously. Mind you, so does Ponting but then he's not particularly loved either. Perhaps it's just that, these days, the Australian team is struggling a little and the pressure is just wearing everyone down. There's little joy about the place and the atmosphere seems a tad strained. Stories of animosity toward Clarke from within the team simply add weight to the idea that he's not liked. This, maybe, is made worse by the fact that within the team are those that are liked. Perhaps we all just think that if I like so and so and he doesn't (maybe) like Clarke then I won't like Clarke either. Michael, I would never begin to understand why people think the way they do. They just do. That situation, of course, is not helped when there seems a distinct lack of support coming from teammates. I'm not sure the coach's comment of support quite removes the issue from public scrutiny. The coach, of course, has a vested interest in playing this down. Perhaps, Michael is indeed the life of the party, at least within the confines of the team, protected as it is from prying eyes and the masses generally. Swarms of CA hangers-on (or is that hanger ons?) keeping the boys isolated must give them the impression of being a world apart from the rest. Perhaps it is just this which invokes these responses about Clarke. Perhaps, though, he just is not liked for whatever reason which is different for different people. Who knows - in the end, who cares? But, Michael, since you raised the subject and asked for opinions you must agree you got them!
Bayman
Guest
Brett, On the issue of celebrity you are absolutely correct. Michael Clarke is no longer a cricketer, he's a "product". I also agree that Michael is in no real position to foist himself upon the masses - and, not surprisingly, he has no great desire to do so. No argument there and fully understood. However, when he's standing outside the dressing room or walking around the Members Stand and approached by someone he could at least give the impression that his day has not just been ruined. This is the situation to which I was referring. The difference, in an instance like this, between Clarke and some others (e.g. Katich, Watson, Hauritz, Jaques) is noticable. They stop and chat happily while Clarke gives the impression he's just been prevented from doing something else, anything else.
Gregory
Guest
To Ponting he displayed a Uriah Heep demeanour: "I'm so happy for Ricky to remain captain even for the rest of my career", which we all know is a lie. He's a good batsman but there are other good batsmen in the team who are more team-oriented and less vain and narcissistic. I have no interest in seeing his women, his sports cars or his luxury Bondi pad. I'm always happy when he gets out cheaply!
amazonfan
Roar Guru
I don't think that Warne did it because of the limelight. I think he did it because he doesn't think that Ponting is a particularly good captain. Who can blame him?
The Visitor
Guest
I always thought he got paid to go out and score runs for the team. If he is captain he has to make decisions that hopefully benefit the team. Along the way he might inspire some youngsters to pick up a cricket bat, some people will pay to watch him bat either live or on tv. He is not paid to be everyones favourite bloke.
Oracle
Guest
No problems with him as a Test cricketer,his record is impressive. But, I wouldn't pay to watch Katich, Clarke, Hussey M and North bat because they rarely take on the bowling, just accumulate. That is Cricket Australia's problem at the moment, take Ponting out, and maybe Watson, and Haddin when the team is going well, the rest of the batsmen are broing to watch. Captaincy??? Certainly should not be in T20 side, let alone captain.
Lolly
Guest
Turn it up Will. He knew what he was doing. How long have you followed Aus cricket for without realising that Warne loves the limelight, regardless of how it comes?
jameswm
Guest
There isn't anyone else to groom. All the other batsmen (Kat, Hussey, North and) are too old or have too much on their plate already (Watto). Haddin's spot's under threat (though less so since yesterday) and you couldn't have Johnson, Hilfy, Doherty or Bollinger as captain. The young guys like Khawaja and Ferguson who come in - they're the other possibilities, but not yet.
jameswm
Guest
There is more to being a captain that making tactical decisions on the field. I would have thought that's pretty obvious. I won't comment on Warnie's indiscretions except to say they can't have helped. As for the threesome thing in playboy undies - firstly he was set up, and secondly...well...should I say it... good on him...
Hutchoman
Roar Pro
It would be very interesting to see Michael Clarke going toe to toe with big Curtly ...
Hutchoman
Roar Pro
And I'd like a Space Shuttle for Christmas but it just doesn't work that way. It you want to get paid $2m+ a year to play sport, there are a few things you have to do that "you might not want to do". Tough luck. The great problem with Clarke is the perception that "it's all about me". Doesn't wash with the Australian sporting public. Never has, never will.
The Visitor
Guest
Have you ever had a pretty girlfriend?