Whether that’s a claim to fame or infamy will be debated until the cows come home. After all, the Australian cricket captain is the second highest post in the country after the Prime Minister.
Can you imagine a multi-tattooed PM? The mind boggles.
How anyone can destroy parts of their body for the rest of their lives is way beyond my comprehension.
Not a problem with the Pacific Islanders, it’s an integral part of their culture.
But Michael Clarke?
His tatts have me blinking in disbelief. If it’s hard to understand why he has disfigured his body permanently, how can we figure his mind-set?
Will he be a captain like Richie Benaud, or an Ian Chappell, an Allan Border, a Mark Taylor, or a Steve Waugh?
Hopefully not like his predecessor, Ricky Ponting, who lost the captaincy plot and his batting form over the last three years, but is still within whispering distance and ever willing to make suggestions if Clarke’s struggling.
It would be a huge plus for Australian cricket is Clarke can be a Benaud: all pride, and passion, never thinking of defeat, just keen to play positive attacking cricket.
Or Ian Chappell, belligerent towards the opposition, but his team would walk over hot coals for him. Positive attacking cricket his forte as well.
Or a Border, a reluctant captain for 93 Tests, a world record, whose batting was the team’s benchmark, bolstered by his captaincy-coach combination with Bobby Simpson that reaped rich rewards.
Or Taylor’s serenity, never flustered, a skipper with lateral vision and positive vibes, with twice as many Test wins against defeats – a diplomat rather than a cage rattler.
Or Waugh’s steely resolve. If there’s been a tougher more ruthless Test cricketer I haven’t seen him. Winning was everything, playing to save a Test was never an option.
That’s why Stephen Rodger Waugh owns the best Test captaincy record in history with a 71.92% win ratio, from 57 Tests, 41 wins, 9 losses, and 7 draws.
Ponting’s next best with 62.33%, Mike Brearley 58.06%, Bill Woodfull 56%, Viv Richards 54%, with Andrew Strauss and Shaun Pollock sharing 53.84%.
To put Waugh’s percentage in perspective, of the 50 Test captains who have captained their country a minimum 25 times, 37 have 48% or less, win ratio.
That puts Waugh in a class of his own and someone for Clarke to aspire to but he couldn’t be ruthless.
So a mixture of Richie Benaud’s pride and passion with Mark Taylor’s serenity seems more appropriate.
We’ll start seeing what really makes Michael Clarke tick tonight.
jameswm
Guest
not sure what you mean there Ian, but just consider that maybe my tongue was firmly planted in my cheek when I wrote that...
AdamS
Roar Guru
Not entirely true Ian, he had several other plans involving things like; Bringing back the nightwatchman after SW had shown it to be a negative tactic and looking pleased when his NW chewed up 3hrs of the following day scoring no runs. Not enforcing follow ons Truely inane bowling changes and field settings Despite having at worst a 50/50 chance of getting it right, making toss choices that the whole planet cold see were incorrect. Never wining in India Losing the Ashes Losing the Ashes Losing the Ashes The list goes on.
Lolly
Guest
What does that link mean? A skipper with Fleming, McGrath and MacGill at his disposal is hardly in the same position as Punter with a rotating and mediocre spin attack and a flaky 'strike' bowler like Johnson as his main hope. Jeez, Punter would have bitten your hand off for a bowler as good as Fleming in the past couple of years.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
JamesB, Caterers and food and so on are planned depending on how many people turn up - I'm expecting 200 people, then I buy so many kilos of chicken and what not. Im expecting ten people then it's easy - I buy less chicken. But a cricket game involves 22 people. If I dont have enough people show up and give me money to watch them, then either we need to find a rich patron, or they are amateurs, right ?
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
OK, so Im out by two runs. Not like it matters. More. Tour. Games.
jamesb
Guest
273 all out Ian
jamesb
Guest
gee your asking a cricket fan like myself that doesn't have the insights to CAs balance sheets. I do know that when a small number of people turn up to a sporting event, stadium organisers would run low on caterers, food etc. And if theres a big crowd, there would be a huge increase in caterers and all systems go. Playing shield cricket at Junction oval, then playing test cricket at the MCG, you would give an advantage to the opposition. Cricket is a unique game. Its a game based around conditions of a cricket pitch. Its very significent. By the sounds of it, I think you want AFL to be played 12 months of the year and no cricket.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Or to summarise ... More. Tour. Games.
Johnno
Guest
Think about the bigger picture JamesB. You have to give a bit if you want take to to. If you make it overly highly difficult you will onto get competitive series , just white washes like we saw with recent 2011 India tour of England. anD england's 2006 series yes england were emitting some key players, and had some fitness and all sorts of internal issues but would of done much better still lost but would of been closer if they had a better preparations. i never want to see in test cricket again for a so called marquee series india in england, to be such a unessicary whitewash because the away team had a pathetic preparation. Sur eit means we may lose the odd test or even have hard fought games which is a good thing, but it sure beats no contest whitewashes, or you prefer whitewashes and total winning at all costs.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Jamesb, So explain to me, with no-one turning up to the tour match or Shield game at the MCG, how you are going to pay for the various groundsmen and so on.
jamesb
Guest
Ian i still want shield cricket to be played at those venues, MCG, SCG, GABBA Adelaide Oval and WACA. it gives those players a chance to get used to the pitch conditions, so that when they play test cricket for Australia in Australia, the players would know the condtions, and therefore have home ground advantage. What your suggesting Ian i disagree with, and your giving an advantage to the tourung side that comes to Australia. Cricket is a unique game, players need to get used to conditions Australia all out for 273 Hussey 95 middle of the road score. still a chance
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
275 all out. Not a disgraceful score, but not what I'd like to defend.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
You can lie to the caucus, and you can lie to the press, but never ever ever lie to yourself.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Jamesb, Abandon the big grounds to Australian rules, as they can bring in revenue, and cricket can't. That means Junction Oval for Victoria, North Sydney or Bankstown for NSW and so on. Put a push on for club-level cricket- run an Australia wide knockout comp for clubs. Hold games in the country for touring and Australian sides. Accept the really good athletes will play one of the various football codes, and play hardball with professional cricketers (ie "sure. Go play IPL. Enjoy"). Put a stink on between NSW and Queensland ... that we cant get 5000 people to turn up and pay money to see NSW sling bean-balls at Queenslanders, or vice-versa, is a disgrace.
jameswm
Guest
Hughes did well at least - justified his selection.
jamesb
Guest
i did say looking after grade cricket before didn't I that would be my key. "Oh yeah, and as far as the BBL goes, show me some evidence it will actually get people to show up and pay money," well Ian my name is James, but my last name is not Sutherland. If you want some evidence ring cricket HQ in Victoria and find out. Its not my idea about the BBL. Also, how would you bring extra revenue to the game Ian? Aus 9/ 252
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Oh yeah, and as far as the BBL goes, show me some evidence it will actually get people to show up and pay money, I note the huge crowds turning up for league cricket games between suburban clubs in Australia.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
*smiles brightly* so, how are you supposed to pay for these coaches you speak of ?
jamesb
Guest
Ian I think we are talking two different subjects here. Your talking about crowds that bring revenue to the game, while I'm talking coaching and development. I suppose thats why CA want to bring in the Big BAsh League to entice young cricketers to stick with cricket. Also in the last few years, CA has had tours of India purposely so that it will help increase CAs bottom line. Anyway, I still think coaching and development and looking after grade cricket would be my priority. Aus 8/ 251
jamesb
Guest
8 for 250 Australia. can hussey get a century. 74 not out