Michael Clarke has never felt higher in his career but, if he fails in the first Test in South Africa next month, the Australian captain will equal the worst scoring streak of his career.
Clarke has failed to reach 50 in his past seven innings, which is the third lowest run of his 102 Test matches.
He went nine innings without a half-century between November 2004 and July 2005 and again between September 05 and April 06 during which time he was dropped for the only time in his illustrious career.
But despite failing to pass 30 in the last seven innings of Australia’s 5-0 Ashes clean sweep this summer, Clarke still averaged 40.33 after scoring crucial hundreds in Brisbane and Adelaide when the series was on the line.
Australia have rarely succeeded when Clarke has failed, and he’ll be relied on to break his drought in the first Test against the world No.1 side South Africa in Centurion in early February.
Coach Darren Lehmann is concerned about Australia’s repeated first-innings stumbles during the Ashes series, and Clarke is the centrepiece of the batting order at No.4.
“He’s our best batsman, first and foremost, and he needs to make runs,” said Lehmann, following the Sydney Test.
“He’s certainly done that over the period of time of these 10 (back-to-back Ashes) Test matches.
“We’ve got to improve our first-innings batting … again we were 5-97 (in Sydney), so we’ve got to improve when we come up against South Africa away from home.”
What’s bizarre about this mini-slump is that Clarke wouldn’t appear to be in a slump at all.
In fact, he’s only averaged less than 40 in one tour since taking over as skipper – in the West Indies in 2012.
Clarke has been the world’s top run-scorer for the past two years running – piling on 1093 in 2013 and, during the Melbourne Test, he passed the 8000 runs barrier.
The most emphatic whitewash in Ashes history was the crowning achievement of Clarke’s career, with his dynamic captaincy crucial in Australia’s domination of England.
“As a leader, on and off the field, he’s exceptional. On the field, tactically, he’s one of the best captains I’ve seen,” Lehmann said.
“Off the field … in England, with how we wanted to change, he’s driven that.”
Clarke is his own harshest critic and will be hungry for a return to form.
He scored arguably the finest century of his career against Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander in treacherous conditions when he was last in South Africa in 2011. However, the personal achievement was hugely overshadowed by the fact he was captaining a side that was rolled for just 47 runs in Cape Town.
Bebop
Guest
Um, I have two words - "Jacques" and "Kallis". Double centuries eluded him until two years ago. Them he scored two, and has gone past 150 more in the past few years than in his early career. 38 years old.
Brendon the 1st
Guest
Sorry Jo, but I never read a single article where someone was pushing for Bailey to captain Australia, I do agree that the pressure may be a factor, but hey, seven innings hardly represents a slump.
Lroy
Guest
+1 I thought he had a great Ashes series.. 2 tonns. averaged 40.. Id be happy to have a slump like that if I ever played test cricket ;-)
DubbleBubble
Guest
He doesn't travel all that well that's for sure.
DubbleBubble
Guest
When batsmen hit around 32-33 the reflexes start to fade. Hopefully Clarke will be able to shift down to 5 again soon.
Wilson Flatley
Roar Rookie
I was laughing to myself the other night during the Big Bash, they interviewed one of the girls from the Aussie side, and the female TV presenter referred to her as a batsman! The only time Channel 10 should have used "batter" and she stuffed it up.
Sandy
Guest
The power of CA ;) I have heard all teams refer to their batsmen as batter's. I hate it too.
The Bush
Roar Guru
That's a fascinating bit of info Felix, thanks for that!
Aransan
Guest
This wasn't during his "Chappell a l'orange" period was it?
Bearfax
Guest
The Great Greg Chappell, once went through six matches, 11 innings against the West Indians and averaged 14.4. It happens to the best of them. Unless his back takes its toll Clarke will be back.
Felix
Guest
I hate it as well Bush, but apparently it's a directive from Cricket Australia now that the Women's game is administered under the same umbrella.
JGK
Roar Guru
One of those innings was 6* so it's really only 6 innings. Having said that I reckon his average could drop below 50 during the SAf series.
Aransan
Guest
Hopefully there will be at least one good partnership before he comes in to bat. In the medium term we need to develop a good number 3 and there don't appear to be many prospects at the moment. Perhaps an opportunity for a good opening bat with reasonable defensive skills to come in at 3?
Jo M
Guest
No, don't agree. I think the pressure on him leading up to this Ashes series, particularly after England, has been immense. If he read the newspapers (both here and overseas) and even pages like this and all the comments attached to them, he would have seen the big push to make Bailey captain and all the articles about whether Bailey would make a good test captain, how Clarke had caused this or that, how Clarke couldn't do this or that and on and on it went. He probably wondered what the hell he had to do to get people to believe he could do the job. He didn't ever expect to win the Ashes so quickly or easily and I can understand after they were won the huge sense of relief he felt. His batting will be back and he will step up again as he no doubt will have to in SA.
Dennis Freedman
Roar Guru
So he makes his hundreds when the Ashes are on the line and then say he is in a form slump?
Nudge
Guest
He's 32, don't reckon
The Bush
Roar Guru
It's great to hear someone call then batsmen! I detest the growing use of "batter". Clarke will turn it around, the blokes has just been throuh about two years or so of impossible form, it couldn't last. I predict some good scores are just around the corner however - talent always shines through!
ak
Roar Guru
Age is slowly but surely catching up with him.
It simply just means the batting line up should take more responsibility, no team can rely on one batsman to dig them out of the mire all the time. There were periods in the recent past where Clarke didn't seem to know how to get out, a team effort will be crucial in SA.