What happened to Michael Clarke in Perth? We all expected him to continue on his merry, run-gorging, bowler destroying way with at least another double century.
It has become so common to see Clarkey notching up the milestones that we didn’t expect his golden run to come to an end.
So what happened?
Did he simply cop a top nut from Dale Steyn in the first innings to be out for 5? And what of his 44 in the second dig? Hardly the Bradmanesque performances that we have become accustomed to.
No the truth goes much deeper. Deep into that murky underworld that nobody understands. Sports Science.
Michael Clarke’s enormous run feast over the last twelve months has taken its toll on his body.
Biometric testing before the second innings in Perth suggested that Clarke was at high risk of a stress injury to his left foot.
Scans showed that Clarke had put his left foot down the wicket so many times in the last year that a hotspot had developed.
Michael was ordered by the team physios and medicos to bat for no more than nine overs in the second innings. He did the right thing and only faced 52 balls.
Planting that left foot down the pitch to play those perfect drives is asking for trouble. Ricky Ponting knew the dangers and has been making sure he wasn’t over-batted.
If Clarke wants to prolong his time in the Baggy Green then the answer is simple. Fewer runs.
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