Clarke

[Tulip]

Awesome summer, has grown on me.

His brashness backed up with runs is charming, and he seems to be a great captain

On'ya Mike

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Even as a big fan of Clarke he's managed to surprise me a little. I knew he'd be a good captain but he's taken his game to another level and looks so complete out there.

Whenever he comes in to bat I always feel like he's good for 50+ unless he does something stupid. Obviously that won't always happen, but he looks comfortable out there and it's clear he just loves captaining his country.

That 100 on Tuesday was the perfect example of how easy he makes it look these days.

 

[dan warna]

concur.

I thought he was selected too early and was too immature, probably something that can be said about ponting and steve waugh as well.

Thrashing an India laden with legends is a good start to any career (lets be honest, he is just starting).

Next test is the windians, lankans, boks and the brits. I think then we'll know the calibre of his captaincy across a spectrum of players.

I boldly announced several years ago, he'll be a adequate international batsman, struggling to average in the mid to low 40s. Many agreed with me, some said he'll be in the 50s.

After a dominant series against the indians his average is knocking on 50, which is the benchmark of good to exceptional test batsmen. I am pleased I'm wrong.

I think to aid his cause, we have a battery of very good bowlers coming along, something that instills confidence in the rest of the team and something denied Ponting.

Further CA is selecting players on form, not reputation or on politics (by and large). The angst of states previously on NSW selection policy seems to be allyed somewhat with players getting selected more and more on quality than their mateship.

some bold moves have come off, Hilfenhaus and pattinson, the rebuilding of siddle and lets be honest, starc shouldn't have been in the mix, but performed well when given an opportunity.

warner seems to be maturing, his last 3 ODI innings would suggest he is beginning to shoulder some of the burden of being a senior batsman in the international team and not a tonkarama sideshow.

Clarke could very well be the captain and leader to take Australia on to being the no.1 team in all forms of cricket....

I'd like to think so.

I wonder, will Hilditches last act as selector be to have permanently destroyed cummins

the thought of cummins, hilfenhaus, siddle and pattinson throwing down fireballs and unplayable swinging deliveries is very exciting for a humble fan like me.

I think our opening partnership is nearly settled, but 3 and 4 require some tinkering.

I worry about hussey and punter against england.

 

[Wicked Lester]

Clarke could very well be the captain and leader to take Australia on to being the no.1 team in all forms of cricket....

The signs are good, but as you rightly say, its still early days. Our trouncing of India in the test series may say more about India than about Australia. Time will tell.

What's pleasing is that Clarke's batting has risen to the challenge and his on field captaincy looks assured.

The single biggest step forward Australian cricket has taken over the past 12 months however has probably been the appointment of McDermott as bowling coach.

In my view the batting line up has a number of big question marks over it. I also have concerns about Ponting and Hussey facing up to South Africa and England, but even more worrying is the lack of young (and I mean young) batsmen demanding a place in the line up. Meanwhile, the selectors seem to be adopting an approach where they're prepared to reward solid first class cricketers (Cowan, Forrest) who are having a good year. That strategy might work long term, it might not but I'll need some convincing the likes of these two (and Marsh and others) are going to take us back to the very top of test cricket. They're good citizens these blokes, but their records do not suggest they are the next Mike Hussey (who can debut at 30, average 50+ from the word go and have 6-7 years at the top).

I singled out the quote above because, on a quick look at the English and South African test teams, you'd have to think both sides will remain largely in tact for the balance of Clarke's test captaincy. South Africa will lose Kallis and England will lose Strauss (the worst performed batsman in England's batting line up) but the nucleus of those two sides is likely to remain in tact for at least the next 3-5 years and possibly longer.

In other words, Australia will need to demonstrate massive improvement - and pluck some batting stars from nowhere - to consistently challenge England and South Africa. We'll also have to hope our arch rivals don't unearth their own young talent. I think we'll be competitive, but I'm not convinced we'll be dominant.

 

[Hellgood]

Has had a superb summer with the bat after having a poor last home summer against England, a lot of people were questioning whether he was even in our best side so it's good to see him really cement himself as our best batsman at the moment.

Captaincy is a harder thing to judge. Results are pretty damn good in test cricket, but that could that be due to the inept nature of this Indian team. Gave the bowlers short spells throughout the summer which seemed to be quite successful. Wouldn't call him a great captain just yet, because the sample space is a bit small. Obviously he will be judged in hindsight on the Ashes and the World Cup. At the moment he is quite clearly the man to lead the team.

 

[Belnakor]

Clarkes true test as captain will be if the Poms get a run on in the ashes, have two batsman 100*, thats when you'll see if he is any good or "too defensive" as people claimed Ponting was.

 

[frankrizzo]

His biggest battle is going to be staying on the park, as somebody who developed a back problem in my 20's i know things are only going to get worse for Clarke in the coming years.

With his injury woes in recent years i don't think he can continue to play full time in one dayers and test cricket.

 

[aussierulesrules]

I was calling for Clarke to be given the captaincy a fair while before he eventually was and he's even exceeded my expectations, especially with regards to how he's performed personally with the bat since then. Me likey.

 

[Ice goddess]

Clarkes true test as captain will be if the Poms get a run on in the ashes, have two batsman 100*, thats when you'll see if he is any good or "too defensive" as people claimed Ponting was.

In his one test as captain against England last year he struggled to stop runs leaking so it will be a test.

Now he needs to go up to #3 which has been a problem since Punter dropped down the order.

He struggled badly at #4 but if he really has improved as it has seemed this summer going up the order shouldn't be a problem. Reputations are probably made by succeeding in the top three.

 

[damochandler]

great summer and he is a great captain

 

[Bomber Bears]

England will be a test, he still has a bit of a gap between bat and pad when defending which sees him get knocked over a bit so the moving ball will be intersting. Been a very good first 12 months or so in charge though from a personal and captaincy point of view

 

[legend166]

The amount of people that wrote him off after his poor Ashes summer last year was ridiculous.

Granted, he was terrible during that summer, and it couldn't have come at a worse time, considering everyone else but Hussey were floundering.

However, the fact remains that from his recall to the side in 2006 to the series against Pakistan in England in 2010, he was our best performing batsman. So to see the knives out to the extent of him being booed onto the ground by Australian supporters because he had bad trot for five or six tests was very disappointing. Hussey and Ponting were terrible for much longer periods and they were backed to the hilt.

So yes, it was great to see him bounce back and dominate, and I was surprised to the extent at which he did bounce back, but he's a quality player.

 

[damochandler]

England will be a test, he still has a bit of a gap between bat and pad when defending which sees him get knocked over a bit so the moving ball will be intersting. Been a very good first 12 months or so in charge though from a personal and captaincy point of view

if he has an ashes series like he did in 09. gee could be good signs

 

[Thommo 42]

Will still struggle against high quality pace attacks, as he goes too hard early.

Once he gets set though, he is a beautiful batsman. Even in his 329, he looked terrible for the first 40 and then never looked like getting out again until one life in the 180's.

 

[Tassieboy]

Clarke's a guy that needs a lot of luck early, but gee he's amazing when in.

I'm disappointed, however, that he went against the physio's advice and played in the tri-series final, and will now probably miss 5 ODIs against the Windies.

 

[realsniper09]

Despite the worries about Ponting and Hussey, and I think Ponting's few innings since he has been back playing with Tasmania, show that he'll be selected because he is still one of our best batsmen.

A 75* in the OD final, then 2 centuries in the shield after that.

Also shows maybe the lack of quality young batsmen that are coming through, which is very disappointing at the moment.

Just also displays how far apart Clarke is in terms of batting skills compared to the rest of Australia.

 

[Ron]

Now he needs to go up to #3 which has been a problem since Punter dropped down the order.

He struggled badly at #4 but if he really has improved as it has seemed this summer going up the order shouldn't be a problem. Reputations are probably made by succeeding in the top three.

No he doesn't. If he is making runs at #5, then leave him at #5. Why change something that works? Reeks of stupidity.

And speaking of stupidity, the reputations are made by succeeding in the top three line is up there. I guess going by that statement, no one rates Tendulkar then.

 

[frankrizzo]

Watson at three seems the logical choice, breaking up the promising warner/cowan partnership to reinstate an opener with 18 50's and only 2 tons seems like a backward step.

A top 6 of

warner
cowan
watson
ponting
clarke
hussey

that seems like a solid top 6, and we still have a natural strokemaker batting at the vital 3 position.

 

[Belnakor]

No he doesn't. If he is making runs at #5, then leave him at #5. Why change something that works? Reeks of stupidity.

And speaking of stupidity, the reputations are made by succeeding in the top three line is up there. I guess going by that statement, no one rates Tendulkar then.

yeah Clarke just made the highest score in the history of No.5. Quick change his position.

 

[Ice goddess]

yeah Clarke just made the highest score in the history of No.5. Quick change his position.

Yes but if he's as good as most think, his triple ton or any runs he could make at #3 would be more valuable for the team, especially considering how often we seemed to be losing 2 or 3 quick wickets.

 

[Ice goddess]

Watson at three seems the logical choice, breaking up the promising warner/cowan partnership to reinstate an opener with 18 50's and only 2 tons seems like a backward step.

A top 6 of

warner
cowan
watson
ponting
clarke
hussey

that seems like a solid top 6, and we still have a natural strokemaker batting at the vital 3 position.

Watson's a strokemaker but atm he's short of runs. Averaging below 40 is not great.

 

[frankrizzo]

reality is he's coming straight back into the test team, either in cowan's spot or in marsh's vacated spot.

I just feel the cowan/warner partnership showed enough promise to at least warrant a few more series to let it develop.

Watson won't bat at 6 that much is clear.

 

[dan warna]

reality is he's coming straight back into the test team, either in cowan's spot or in marsh's vacated spot.

I just feel the cowan/warner partnership showed enough promise to at least warrant a few more series to let it develop.

Watson won't bat at 6 that much is clear.

his batting average is 40 and his bowling average is 30.

Makes him more than a handy all rounder.

 

[Underarm]

Will still struggle against high quality pace attacks, as he goes too hard early.

Once he gets set though, he is a beautiful batsman. Even in his 329, he looked terrible for the first 40 and then never looked like getting out again until one life in the 180's.

Having Clarke at 5 also helps him by shielding him against the quicks....

Clarke's a guy that needs a lot of luck early, but gee he's amazing when in.

I'm disappointed, however, that he went against the physio's advice and played in the tri-series final, and will now probably miss 5 ODIs against the Windies.

His biggest downfall was that he was in too good form.....if he failed he'd probably be right haha.

 

[Thommo 42]

Watson's ideal batting position is #4, but that is currently reserved for RT Ponting and he can bat where he likes imo.

So in the meantime, I think Watto will bat 3 and eventually when Ponting retires or is dropped, hopefully a #3 has emerged and Watto can slot in at 4.