There’s no denying Michael Clarke is calling the shots in Australian cricket. Not only does his captaincy grow in stature by the day, but he’s a selector as well – a first-time double.
Clarke’s the only one who is constantly talking about his team, with not a peep from the Australian selection chairman John Inverarity or his offsiders Rodney Marsh and Andy Bichel.
Even selector-coach Mickey Arthur, another first-time double and usually very happy to talk about anything, has taken a public back seat to the skipper.
Yesterday, Clarke was in full cry stating Brad Haddin is still the first choice Test keeper over Matt Wade, even though Haddin has missed the entire West Indies tour supporting his ill young daughter in Sydney.
Most fans had written off the 34-year-old’s Test career after his below-par performances against India. But with Clarke’s solid support, that’s obviously not the case.
Clarke also flagged Ricky Ponting’s precarious batting berth was secure against South Africa next Australian summer
That’s an even bigger Clarke call.
After this third Test against the Windies, it will be six months before Ponting has his next Test, having pulled out of both international one-day formats.
That’s a big ask for a 37-year-old who will be close to 38 once the South African series gets underway. But again, Clarke’s support will be rock solid, and a telling factor around the selection table.
On the other side of the coin, Clarke has been very quiet about the opening partnerships of David Warner and Ed Cowan in this their seventh Test together.
Take out their superb 214 against India at the WACA in the third Test where Warner blazed away for a career-high 180 and Cowan batted so well for his PB with 74, and the other 10 opening stands between them have been ordinary to fair – 46, 14, 8, 26, 39, 50, 31, 53, 26, and 1 – averaging 29.4.
Surprisingly, Warner has been first out in eight of the 11 digs, batting at full bore or full stop, there’s no grey in the left-hander’s repertoire.
Maybe Cowan’s safety-first batting has forced Warner to change his attitude. Which begs the question: will Warner unshackle himself if Shane Watson was his regular opening partner?
That’s for Clarke for work out as he heads for his IPL debut after this third Test at Roseau.
Clarke will play for the Pune Warriors under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly. Compatriots Callum Ferguson, Steve Smith, and James Hopes are already there.
Watson is heading for the Rajasthan Royals with Rahul Dravid the skipper. Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, and Shaun Tait are there.
Mike Hussey and Ben Hilfenhaus to the Chennai Super Kings, where MS Dhoni is captain, joining George Bailey and Doug Bollinger.
Warner to the Delhi Daredevils to open the batting with captain Virender Sehwag, that promises to be explosive, while Ryan Harris will join Ben Cutting, James Faulkner, David Hussey, and Shaun Marsh at the Kings X1 Punjab under the captaincy of Adam Gilchrist.
But first there’s a Test to be won to take out the series 2-0.
Jonathan Morgan
Guest
Wasn't Bradman both captain and selector at the same time? For the 1938 tour to England he dropped Grimmett (arguably the best slow spin-bowler for the job, and with an incredible record in England), in favour of Fleetwood-Smith who he could control and give orders to. O'Reilly (probably the best bowler in the team) claimed this put him off his rhythm as well not having a good partner he was used to.
pope paul v11
Guest
Laughing but Jaimee and Carlotta are pretty annoyed
Steve War
Guest
Yes, he is the voice of Australian cricket - he has the depth and believability of Jaimee Rogers of TAB Sportsbet, sadly the true voice of Australian sport A better Captain than Carlotta though
soapit
Guest
but wasnt made easier by being his team mate and had some (in the end minor) long term effect on team harmony.
sittingbison
Roar Pro
good grief! Shows why the captain should not be a selector
Morning Son
Guest
Here we go again, another Michael Clarke article. This third test match looks like it will be a better indicator of Clarke's so called aggressive captaincy. Lets see how he goes.
Disco
Guest
Threatened to quit international cricket, allegedly.
sheek
Guest
Some suggest I am anti-modern day players. So it may surprise some to read me write that I'm impressed with Michael Clarke the captain, very impressed. I had been a detractor, considering Clarke a bit on the 'lite' side, but I'm happy to say he's proved me wrong. He's having a go, & showing inventive thinking, & that's good, very good in my book. Sure, he's going to make mistakes, & have days when things don't go right for him or the team. But I love a pro-active skipper!
sheek
Guest
BigAl, We loves youz all.....
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Sure was. Warney was in denial and filthy. Will be an interesting 2012/13.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Yep he's going good i admit
Matt F
Roar Guru
We also need to keep in mind that this pitch is turning already. If there is this much turn on day 1 imagne how much it will be turning on day 4-5. Not all "bat first" pitches are 400+ run belters. Some of them are awful throughout the match but . It could well be that a first innings total of around 220+ is very good. We need to see how thr WIndies bat before making judgements. James - Both are injured
jameswm
Guest
I sort of agree Brendon. Ponting suffered from a severe case of "batting first stubbornness". I think Clarke has bowled once or twice though. Maybe he thinks that tough as the pitch is batting first, it will be even harder batting last. Time will tell. Are Siddle and Pattinson injured? I guess Siddle still has that side strain.
David Lord
Expert
Totally agree about captain-coach not being selectors PP, but we have to live with it. Having said that, Michael Clarke is pulling all the right reins so far, and long may he do so.
Brendon
Guest
Yet Steve Waugh's decision to drop Warne for the 4th test against the West Indies in 99 was right. We won that test and tied the series 2-2. Captain and coach on tour is a great idea. On tour you have a small squad of players and the captain and coach are working closely with all the players are in a great position to judge. During the summer players are spread out over the country playing for state shield teams and its not possible for the coach and captain to be selectors in the middle of an international series. If Clarke and Arthur keep picking under performing players then that will reflect poorly on them.
Brendon
Guest
His captaincy is growing in stature? Yet again Australia won the toss and batted first and yet again our batting failed. The whole batting first fallacy shows how Clarke has inherited Ponting's stubbornness and semi-professional thinking.
Disco
Guest
So long as Punter's ego remains unharmed.
Margaret R.
Guest
Big Al , I agree with you , and especially the elocution part. Not only for sportsman. Also slow down .... too many words too quickly.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
No way should the captain and coach be selectors. I don't disagree that they should state their preferred players, which Aussie captains have no doubt done forever but when it comes down to it they back their favourites. How this innovation is supposed to prevent another whopping such as the one by England I have no idea. I can't see Clarkey having the heart let alone the guts to tell Ponting and Hussey they've been dropped if that's what it comes to. Both have indicated they will not go voluntarily. Unecessarily awkward at best. How about when Steve Waugh, in the more common role of touring selector, had to tell the great Warney to take a rest for the good of the team? As for Mickey Arthur having an official say plainly ridiculous. He should deal with what he's given, not what he wants. Anyway it may all be beer and skittles and I'm completely wrong but does the Australian team want to end up like the Indian contingent that toured recently?
BigAl
Guest
This is correct, but speaking in public, as with most things, is best done properly