In the film ‘Magnum Force’, when his Lieutenant reveals to him his pride in not ever having to draw his gun in the line of duty, ‘Dirty’ Harry Callahan disparages his superior with the words “A man’s got to know his limitations”.
Harry’s doctrine most definitely applies to Australian captain Michael Clarke and will soon be accepted and acknowledged by the broader cricket loving public without derision.
In the past, successful Australian Test captains have been larger than life. They have been hard-nosed leaders whose charisma has been commensurate with the mantle sports lovers in this country and who have been considered second only to the Prime Minister.
Clarke will never be considered hard. Nor will he be seen as a cricketing Pied Piper whose team will follow him ‘over the top’ and into the field of battle. But he doesn’t have to.
In the past, Clarke has been the victim of a sometimes harsh public perception that he was a flashy representation of Gen Y. All show and not much substance.
Many would say this is another example of our tall poppy syndrome; however, the fact is Australians prefer their champions to be about the greater good. It’s why they’ve never embraced Lleyton Hewitt but loved Pat Rafter. Scorned James Magnussen but adored Suzie O’Neill.
Clarke has clearly worked extremely hard to shed the persona of a self-centered, flamboyant man through losing the diamond earrings and sports cars, projecting a more conservative image and piling on the runs. But, of course, mud sticks…..and stinks.
His decision to not attend Australia’s first game in the Champions Trophy against England was inexplicable. The fact that a few days later Clarke rolled up to a charity match hosted by his close friend Shane Warne served to show that for all his efforts, he still doesn’t get it.
How can Clarke expect his team to shed their apathetic and narcissistic façade if he can’t get himself to his team’s first match in the Old Dart?
Ian Chappell wrote this week, “A captain’s entitled to expect 100 per cent exertion from his players on the field, but equally, in return, he has to outlay the same effort for them off the ground.”
“He’ll have to rectify this failing quickly because it can reach a point where the captain ‘loses’ the players. Once that point is reached they’re gone for good.”
And then Darren Lehmann came moseying through the saloon doors.
Clarke would have felt a weight lift from his shoulders. He is clearly the best cricketer in the country, is universally acknowledged as having an acute cricket brain and has exhibited tactical nous of which Chappell himself would be proud. The fact that he isn’t seen as a representative of the Australian cricket team’s expected uncompromising hardness is no longer important.
Lehmann is that magnetic personality that Clarke can never be and they will compliment each other perfectly. Lehmann, with his extroverted positivity and demands for an aggressive winning culture, and Clarke, with his on-field acumen and peerless batting ability, may well be a match made in heaven.
Indeed, fast bowler James Pattinson is on board: “If we look at winning, the individual performances will take care of themselves.”
“The big thing for me personally and as a team, is to back ourselves a lot,” he said. “Don’t doubt anything and play aggressively because we’ve got the talent in the room.”
With Lehmann in his corner and a team focusing on ‘we’ rather than ‘me’, Michael Clarke can afford to be his own man. If he knows his limitations and plays to his great strengths, his team will be compelled to follow him. And so will the Australian public.
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