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.
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.
Adam Daunt
Roar Guru
I think David Hussey is now retired but Chris Lynn is a viable option, I reckon he offers the x-factor Australia could use in the middle order. The only problem is while he averages 45 he has played 20 less games than a Burns and 70 less than Callum Ferguson. He's an exciting option but I think he may need a season more at shield level where he piles on the runs before he becomes irresistible
Adam Daunt
Roar Guru
That may be a good way to go HB, although Smith may want to have complete control on over his team but your right Ponting did it for a while and in the short term it seemed to work which would be useful given there is no obvious replacement currently
Adam Daunt
Roar Guru
They both average more than Shaun Marsh who is continually picked in the test team despite struggling at State Level. Marsh averages 38 compared to Burns 41. I know what I'd rather have in my team given Burns age and ability to develop
Darren
Guest
He's not in the best form but he hasn't been that bad. He made a hundred 4 tests ago. Since then averaging 32 so not great but not awful. Fielding well in slip. Excelleng captain. A long way from this talk even being necessary. You can only base it on fitness and he looks alright at the moment.
b
Guest
I think retiring from short form was a step to lengthen his test career, not shorten it. I think he might be eyeing off the next home Ashes series?
b
Guest
If Clarke's replacement needs a "soft" series or two to come into the team, they aren't good enough. If Clarke wants to go out on top, what's wrong with an Ashes win away and a victorious home summer, a farewell in front of home crowds? Clarke could even retire after the next home Ashes, that's when I would like him to aim for. You seem to be looking for reasons for Clarke to go, even though you know it's just not his time yet. Instead of focusing on Clarke, we should be focusing on young possible replacements. With only a couple of years left, now is the time for a young player to set their sites on his spot with two really good seasons of shield cricket. A couple of 1000+ seasons would see someone walk into Clarke's spot when the time does come.
michael steel
Guest
I've had a feeling for a long time that Michael Clarke would retire after this series. Being as great as he has been there's possibly one great innings left in him for this series. He is one of my favourite cricketers and captains of all time and he moves like Doug Walters as well.
GTW
Guest
Clarke doesn't look too classy at the crease at the moment. Hopefully he can come back into form.
JimmyB
Guest
Semantics
Deep Thinker
Guest
Joe Burns - FC ave 41. Ferguson - FC ave 39. Mediocre.
CT
Guest
If Michael Clarke can maintain his body he should play on. I would like to see him hand over the captaincy to his deputy and continue playing as batsman only. Pup's leadership skills and experience would be invaluable to Smith while he settles into the captaincy
dylan
Guest
what about joe burns or callum ferguson? both are coming off good shield seasons and burns was very unlucky to be dropped after his syint in the side.
Targa
Guest
I hope he retires. If he does and Trent Boult is fit, I expect NZ to win their first series in Oz in 30 years
Deep Thinker
Guest
The issue is that there is no ready made replacement for Clarke. There are only two players outside the test team with FC averages above the very low 40s. Chris Lynn - 45 (ave 62 last season) David Hussey - 52 (ave 66 last season) Both have had great seasons in the shield, but Hussey is 38 y.o so will not be picked (even though on form and career record he deserves to be). The rest of them are a waste of time. Unless the Shield produces 2-3 young batsmen of any quality, Australian cricket is about to go into a rough patch as they have run out of stop-gap veterans to plug the gaps in the batting line up. Michael Clarke retiring now is not going to help.
Rob JM
Guest
While I'm not a big Marsh fan either, he has averaged 43 with the bat since returning in the South African series in the last couple of years. A serviceable player why we wait for young stars to prove themselves.
HB
Roar Rookie
I agree Clarke looks terribly stiff and uncomfortable at the crease, but I'm confident he still has a bit of good batting in him. I know that one of Clarke's most valuable features is his tactical nous, but what do you guys think of the possibility of him handing the captaincy over to Smith after the ashes but remaining in the team as a batsman for a little while, like Ponting did? Then he could provide valuable guidance to Smith as he starts his tenure as captain, as well as focusing more of his energies on improving his form with the bat.
AUSI
Guest
Thats not the disc improving - thats being REPAIRED - different thing, certainly for an elite athlete - an enormous difference and he will be restricted by pain
Adam Daunt
Roar Guru
Clarke deserves to go when he sees fit as I said his record as player and captain should afford him that respect. However, Clarke cannot continue this output at number four, he is and remains a fantastic captain but with the likes of the West Indies visting our shores next summer it may be a good time to allow Smith control of the team and for Australia to blood someone like Joe Burns who shows promise as a middle order player for Australia. I also think it may be best for him to go out on a high similar to what he did in the World cup. Ultimately its his choice and its not some much about his form because I am sure he still has the ability to plunder runs but I think if he goes at the end of the Ashes, its a win-win situation for everyone involved
Mitcher
Guest
I'm open to reasonable discussions about anyone's positions in the team. But if the argument for Clarke moving on begins and ends with Shaun Marsh, then it isn't really a discussion worth expending energy on.
Adam Daunt
Roar Guru
I think he needs to consider putting his interests before the team if his form continues. Also I think with the West Indies coming to Australia it'd be a great time for Australia to blood young players and for Smith to get a solid run as a captain. Also it'd be good for him to go on a high with a possible Ashes win so his image is intact unlike Ponting who undoubtedly lost some admirers for hanging on too long.