A few weeks ago, I spoke of my belief that Michael Clarke would emerge from the South Africa series and the Ashes with an enhanced reputation as our Test captain.
After what we saw in the First Test at the Gabba, I feel that I’m on even safer ground in holding that belief.
His innings was as good a ‘captain’s knock’ as you could ever hope for.
We all know the raw facts – coming in after his predecessor had been dismissed for a duck, the team at 3-40 after conceding a heap of runs and the best bowling attack in the world beginning to assert their authority, he partnered Ed Cowan to the opener’s maiden Test century.
He proceeded to pile on his own hundred and, when joined by the seemingly ageless Mr Cricket, set about dismantling the best bowling attack in the world.
Another double century – only Bradman and Ponting have scored three double tons or better in a calendar year before this – and amazingly his team played the final day of the match with the intention of winning.
It didn’t happen, but to borrow a word that Michael Clarke seems to employ a lot, they played with intent.
After day four he praised the intent that Mike Hussey played with, and then showed his own by taking seven runs off the first over of day five.
Again, late on day five, when almost everyone was resigned to the match petering out to a tame draw, he was alert and athletic enough to snatch a sharp, wide slips catch off Kallis for 49.
He still believed and, fielding with intent, led from the front to the very end.
The Australian team as a whole still has a few weaknesses and there is a lot of cricket to be played in this series. Anything could yet happen against high quality opposition.
But we couldn’t have hoped for a better contribution by the skipper, and the team should feed off that as the summer unfolds.
Self-belief is a vital ingredient for success in sport and Michael Clarke is helping his team to believe that they can achieve great things.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
Calvin Harrison mixed things up in his delivery stride starting behind the-non-striker, then going between the umpire and the stumps to deliver the ball…
Backing up too far, the Dehli Capitals batsman was caught out of his crease when Shai Hope hit the ball to the bowler who…
After some mid-over words between the Indian teammates as Kohli belted Shama for 10 runs in two balls, the bowler had the last laugh…
The TV Umpire ruled that the batsman deliberately changed his line to block the throw at the stumps.
Sunil Narine could not believe what he'd done. The Kolkata Knight Riders batter was castled first ball after shouldering arms to Mumbai Indians pacer…
James Anderson's record-breaking international cricket career will end this northern summer, following crunch talks with England head coach Brendon McCullum. Anderson announced on Saturday…
