It is important to acknowledge that Michael Clarke has averaged better than 70 per Test innings since taking over the Australian captaincy.
Clearly his batting has evolved since he was given this esteemed role.
But does an individual with individual gifts honed to excellence automatically make a good leader?
Not necessarily.
As a leader it is important to avoid hypocrisy.
For example a younger Michael Clarke placed Lara Bingle above a team function (and rightfully incurred the ire of Simon Katich) and an older Michael Clarke suspended his players for not complying with another team function.
Leading people is not easy. Inspirational leadership can inspire people to die for their country. In the case of the military, Victoria Crosses are won by those prepared to sacrifice their lives for others.
Conversely autocratic, fear-based leadership results in people doing the minimum to get by, and in some cases to rebel.
In taking the extreme decision to suspend a player from playing for his country for failure to fill out a team evaluation form, Clarke has introduced fear as his major management tool.
The question needs to be asked whether this would have happened had Clarke not also been a selector.
Clarke has also displayed a level of vindictiveness in Simon Katich’s exclusion from the side, when he was one of the top five batsmen in the world, a position which has not been adequately filled since.
After suffering a most humiliating recent defeat in India, a clear benefit for the selectors is that by suspending players has been to deflect any criticism for team selection and game strategy away from them and onto the players.
Clarke needs to ask himself what he wants from his players, and in doing so how is he going to inspire them to do so.
Respected for aeons as a great cricket nation, Australia has now become the laughing stock of the cricketing world.
It is going to be a long way back from here for Michael Clarke and Australian cricket.
13th Man
Roar Pro
Don these comments are from 2013 just pointing it out in case you might have missed it.
Blaze
Guest
Not sure if he's smart enough to escape...
Don Freo
Guest
Mickey Arthur? This is 2015.
Don Freo
Guest
You are an absolute loop, JT. Do you think no one in Australia follows cricket? Do you think no one can make up their own minds. Did they parole you...or did you escape?
Don Freo
Guest
You are an absolute loop, JT. Do you think no one in Australia follows cricket? Do you think no one can make up their own minds. Did they parole you...or did you escape?
Blaze
Guest
And your "facts" are backed up how exactly?
JT
Guest
Just saw this. WOW. Never thought i would see Facts on Clarke on ROAR. Good article & great comments from Deep Thinker, Tony Dimov, Xiedazhou, sheek, Barry in Caloundra. To sum up from the comments, clarke is "power-hungry dictator, self centred, vindictive, highlights team mates flaws in public, divisive, worst captain ever,..." Best comments from Tony Dimov & Deep Thinker.
Tony Dimov
Guest
Michael Clarke is the cancer in the team; he is absolutely not someone who should be delegated power of any sort. It goes straight to his head and he abuses it for his own gratifications. He cuts off the heads of those who come too close to taking his position; he creates division within "his" own team; he treats the team much more like a gang, or mafia squad than unified elite sporting unit. Its *all* about him, him, him. You're telling me he didn't want to be in this position? Nonsense! I believe its exactly what he wants : to be surrounded with lackeys that look up to him, don't backchat him, do precisely what he says, and in the meantime he upstages them all. He knows he can play cricket, and his average suddenly, remarkably, when he claimed the captaincy role. Its just how he wanted it. He is not a leader of men - he is the worst Australian captain I have seen in 40 years. He is also not a nice human being, as perfectly summed up by Hussey who said to him that day Clarke decided on his little boat trip "You'll see, mate.. one day you'll know what it's all about". Although I have to disagree with Mr Cricket on that one. I don't think someone like Clarke will ever learn.
Clevo
Guest
It's actually a myth that he wanted to leave the team sheds to meet Lara Bingle. He was actually taking the 3 or so debutants of that test out for drinks and a feed
Droppy
Guest
The problem with Australian cricket is the supporters. They simply can't cope with the fact that the Australian team isn't what it used to be, and Clarke seems to be the scapegoat of choice. The greats have retired, you cant expect their shoes to be filled overnight. Yes, he has made blunders along the way - but so have previous captains. Allan Border for one! If Clarke had a few class players around him, and the team was number 1, the world renowned armchair critics of this country would be lining up to give the puppy a pat. But the team isn't as good as it was, so why not compare him to the most ruthless dictators in history? What a joke. It's just a game, and to compare him to figures that have destroyed innocent lives is nothing short of disrespectful to those poor souls. How dare you compare a mere game to such atrocities? If you expect a player to put the game before their family life, you really need a visit to to the psychologist. Clarke left the Windies tour to attend the funeral of his girlfriends father, and he left the NZ tour because his fiancée's nude photo scandal was national news and there was no way he could play normal cricket with all that going on. Credit to him, he went back, sorted it out, returned and scored a ton. Two legitimate reasons to leave a sporting tour, in any sane persons eyes. The sooner the Australian fans pull their head in, the better.
Chapps
Guest
The rot startd with Katich being droppd. For no-one better!Clarke is no Chappell or S Waugh. Also wen the lesser Chappell Lillee n Marsh retired; we sed that'd never happen again. Guess what? We did it again with Langer McGrath Warne; all players with spine. And to think Lehmann wanted to makeway for Clarke.(not selecting Lehmann n Katich much earlier in their careers was biggest selection blunders of past 25 years). We now payn for all that stupidity
Stanley
Guest
Obviously Clarke is not perfect in any way, but he is copping a lot of critisism because the team is ranked third in the world. Nothing but first place is good enough for their supporters. Not a good time to be captain (or coach) of the Aussie team right now - no matter who you are. Bet opinions will change radically if they won the upcoming Ashes series.
Barry in Caloundra
Guest
Clarke is not a leader of men. Promoted as a media darling he's proven he's simply not up to the job. He was too easily awarded the captaincy mostly because he'd scored a few runs. With recent team failures he implores his men to score "hundreds" and threatens to bat at #3 apparently to set an example. So he goes to #3 and scores a duck. He retreats to his old safer #5 and scores 16. No "hundreds". Some example. All this while acting the "tough guy" with Arthur by suspending better palyers. Now he suddenly has a "back problem" and may not play the next test. He's a fair weather player and simply too delicate for the job. Any international team needs a home fan base to succeed. Not so here. He and Arthur are the main reasons the Australian public have given up on our test team. And why is he a selector as well as captain? Is this a conflict of interests?
mushi
Roar Guru
Um I don’t think you can get a more lightly taken comparison than casting a captain who you believe to have unfairly suspended players and tyrants who killed and imprisoned dissenters and have become synonymous with the notion of evil. You know what is wrong with Australian cricket – the supporters. If we’ve gotten to the point that after giving deep consideration to both situations that we still consider Clarke’s actions the equivalent of Stalin’s Russia or North Korea then we have gone insane and lack any perspective. Hating Michael Clarke is a national past time right and one the roar cashes in on almost as much as the typical code war piece.
MadMonk
Guest
What is it about cricketers that attracts such haters. I don't know Michael Clarke and the haters know a lot about various incidents that he was apparently behind. He is a fine cricketer surrounded by mostly average ones. Allan Border was a childhood hero of mine that was faced with the same problem. Captain grumpy made some blues along the way but maintained his own high standards and found a team that was prepared to follow him. I hope Clarke does the same.
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Can't believe that Clarke did not go in at No 3 - regardless of whether he tweaked his back or not. Seems that he has become somewhat precious.
snowygeorge
Guest
My dear Xiexdazhou I,m with you %100 Clarke is a very good player but have no idea what captain mean.
brian zhang
Guest
Clarke left the Windies tour halfway in 2008 because herfather died and he went home to attend his funeral. Ponting left the Sri Lankan your in 2011 halfway because of the birth of his 3rd child Shane Watson left this tour because of the birth of his child Three players who have or are captain or vice captain who have put family ahead of the team Michael hussey also stated his retirement was because he missed seeing his family You can't blame these guys for doing what they did .despite their desire, hunger and passion for the baggy green, family will always come first no matter what
Clavers
Guest
I've heard Botham in his own defence point out that the team he led lost only 2-0 to the West Indies, not 4-0 or 5-0 as was usual in those days.
Clavers
Guest
How did that comment on Abbott get through the moderators? This is a cricket forum not a party political website.