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Michael Clarke, it just might be time to go

Roar Guru
18th July, 2015
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The fifth test at The Oval will be the last hurrah for Australian captain Michael Clarke. (AFP PHOTO / GEOFF CADDICK)
Roar Guru
18th July, 2015
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1554 Reads

Day 2 of the second Ashes Test was an important day. It showed the continued rise of Steve Smith, Australia’s captain-in-waiting and batting superstar, and it showed the potential end of Michael Clarke’s glittering career.

The career won’t end straight away, to do so would be foolish and ill-advised, but perhaps at the end of the Ashes he should hang up the boots.

To say Clarke’s innings was awkward and uncomfortable is an understatement. In the 32-ball stay, Clarke looked a shadow of his former self. He lacked the rhythm or grace that normally accompanies a Clarke innings and its worrying for Australia’s Ashes chances given the inexperience of Adam Voges, Mitch Marsh and Peter Nevill.

At his best Clarke is a wonderful, free flowing batsman with a vast array of drives, cuts and pulls, all able to devastate the world’s best attacks. In addition, he’s a good slip fielder, serviceable bowler and one of cricket’s sharpest minds.

He is a complete package in full force, which is underlined by his imposing record of 45 first class hundreds and 48 fifties, 28 and 27 of them at Test level for an average of 50.31. It’s a record which is up there with the best of them and means Clarke needs to be able to go on his own terms.

I’d never write off a champion such as Clarke but maybe, just maybe, he should follow Chris Rogers and – in all likelihood – Brad Haddin into the sunset at the end of the series.

Rogers showed in the first innings he is more than capable at this level while despite dropping Joe Root, Haddin is still a capable keeper. Clarke remains a very good captain, innovative and attacking, the type which will always make the side better.

The fact he’s taken Australia from mediocrity after the golden era to a feared force, able to win on all grounds is a fact to be respected. It’s also the reason Clarke should and will stay on until the end of the series.

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Nevertheless, given Clarke bats number four, he needs to make runs and I remain doubtful whether he still has the ability to regular pile them on.

Sure Clarke made a solid hundred against India in Adelaide and before that he made runs against South Africa and England. However, the India series was almost a year ago and injuries are seemingly catching up with Clarke. He missed most of the India series and some of the World Cup.

Clarke deserves to be the man to make the call, his record and achievements underline this.

However, I hope Clarke goes on solid terms where fans can remember the good times, rather than how Ricky Ponting left with his record perhaps slightly blemished.

There’s no better time than after the Ashes, given Smith can then learn the ropes of captaincy against New Zealand and the West Indies. It seems like a win-win for all parties.

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