The Michael Clarke Appreciation Thread

[Slax]

Averages can be decieving, Border's average of 50.56 playing against the best West Indies attacks of all time in a struggling side is worth much more than the current day players averages.

I'd rate Border as Australia's next best batsman after Bradman and Clarke won't ever go past past him no matter what average he finishes with. Same goes for Ponting, Waugh, Hayden and Hussey.

Chappell faced much better bowling than Border did over both his career and time as captain. The West Indies attacks were about the same over both periods, but England had a much stronger attack in the late 70s early 80s.

The averages as captain also show this
Chappell 55.38
Border 49.89

 

[Jesse Custer]

Love the bloke, always have. Last year when our own crowd booed him onto the SCG was a massive disgrace. Where are those idiots now? Congratulating him no doubt....

 

[krisholio14]

Quad century for Pup today

 

[Heisenberg_]

Pffft. Another score when his team makes 400+. How about a ton under pressure for once?

Yet another overrated knock from an overrated cricketer.

In all likelihood , the dumbest post in BF history

Agreed, it was by you though

 

[JonoNash]

I loved the bit on Clarke going to Coffs Habour preseason. First comment was that he didn't want to make a fuss of it, no media. They then showed shots that were clearly professionally done of him running up hills and doing weights, clearly set up and fixtured for release the 1 point he did something this summer. He isn't a great, he is a manufactured cricketer.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I loved the bit on Clarke going to Coffs Habour preseason. First comment was that he didn't want to make a fuss of it, no media. They then showed shots that were clearly professionally done of him running up hills and doing weights, clearly set up and fixtured for release the 1 point he did something this summer. He isn't a great, he is a manufactured cricketer.

How convenient of you to leave out the part where they got wind of him doing the preseason and showed up so he let them in.. Muppet you are a joke.

 

[JonoNash]

How convenient of you to leave out the part where they got wind of him doing the preseason and showed up so he let them in

I think you also believe in the tooth fairy.

 

[hawks_time]

I think you also believe in the tooth fairy.

Or you're just ultra-cynical, as he goes to 299.

 

[Dragz]

Well played Clarke, 303 and still going.

 

[krisholio14]

Bring on 400.

 

[XFactor1979]

Michael Clarke > You

 

[LifeSpan-Void]

We've been pretty spoiled in the last 15 years to have captains as strong as Waugh and Ponting, and Clarke's appointment to the position seemed to be as much a speculative choice as it was based on Clarke's output/strength in the team. This is the kind of innings that will make him believe beyond all doubt that he can be the rock of the team, and although the Indian attack will hardly go down as one of the all-time greats, to make 300+ in the Australian summer on a hard wicket shouldn't be summarily dismissed. That said, India has really dropped its collective shoulders as this innings has progressed.

 

[evdo1706]

massive respect for Clarke, the level just increased 10x with that declaration

 

[BarneyBent]

Pffft. Stupid declaration, just wants to appear unselfish. Clearly more worried about his image and his average than his team's success. Typical of a guy who spends most of his time doing Vodafone ads and Bonds photo shoots instead of playing cricket. And this guy captains Australia?

 

[Dorval6]

Pffft. Stupid declaration, just wants to appear unselfish. Clearly more worried about his image and his average than his team's success. Typical of a guy who spends most of his time doing Vodafone ads and Bonds photo shoots instead of playing cricket. And this guy captains Australia?

Agree with the sentiment.

A nothing declaration really.

They don't need 2.3 days to get 10 wickets!
And if it's not about milestones why let Hussey get 150?

Should have declared on 334 not out of respect for the Don (and created a 'captain's legacy' ala Mark Taylor).

Failing that he should have smashed that pathetic flat track record of 380 that Hayden set against the East African 3rds (Zimbabwe).

329 Not Out...why bother..??

PS - well batted Pup

 

[Oliver09]

Well done Clarke, great innings, but I still can't warm to the guy. Thats probably due to him getting a gog in the team so easy when he was averaging low 30s in 1st class cricket. He's always been the chosen one & no matter what he did, or more to the point didn't do, he always held his spot. He was dropped once but got his spot back when there were 4 or 5 others with stronger claims, including Brad Hodge. Even this time last year he was in terrible form but was made captain.

One thing I had no problem with was the run in with Katich. Why would a bloke want to sppend 5-6 hours in changerooms with blokes you spend most of the year with when he could be spending it with Lara Bingle? I know what i'd prefer. Seemed to me that Katich would want it to go on because he wasn't an international player for a couple of months as he wasn't in the one day team.

Disapointed he didn't go for the record, he won't get another chance as good considering the match is only halfway through & Australia are in such a dominate position. I am happy that Lara still has it though, a record such as that should stay with an all time great, gives it a certain prestige.

On another note how can the Test change like it did? 13 wickets fall in the first 5 hours & 1 in the next 10. I know cricket is a funny game but thats just taking the piss. India will be 5-6 down if exposed form means anything or the pitch might've just flattened out something terrible & they'll be 0-200 at stumps.

 

[exile]

what an innings! top effort, pup!

 

[Barry_Badrinath]

For a Clarke appreciation thread there seems to be a lot of criticism of him.

 

[XFactor1979]

With regards to footy teams they support, Siddle's a north melbourne man, not sure what team Pattinson supports

What footy team does he support?

 

[Del35196]

Incredible innings, should have got more selfish and go for the record. Dont need 7.5 session to bowl India out.

But being captain, he probably didnt want to look selfish, but the Aussies aren't going to lose so I think he should have said bugger it, and kept going til about 40 mins after tea.

 

[Xtreme]

Agree with the sentiment.

A nothing declaration really.

They don't need 2.3 days to get 10 wickets!

They will only need until the close of play today

 

[iDon]

It'd mean nothing if he scored 50 centuries? This from a mod? Wow..

He is at 18 centuries. He won't make it to 50. So it will be a no-issue.

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

He is at 18 centuries. He won't make it to 50. So it will be a no-issue.

Nice try, but that doesn't change the fact you said it wouldn't matter. So if he happened to score 32 centuries in his last 5 years or so, they'd be irrelevant to you.

As I said, wow..

 

[placebo]

Nice try, but that doesn't change the fact you said it wouldn't matter. So if he happened to score 32 centuries in his last 5 years or so, they'd be irrelevant to you.

As I said, wow..

Let it go, DA. Or your head will start to develop this annoying pain that you won't be able to rid. It's the same pain you get when you bang your head against the wall.

No matter what Clarke does, or how well he bats, it will not matter to those sort of people. Their stubbornness and immaturity will continue to get in the way.

 

[DaRick]

For a Clarke appreciation thread there seems to be a lot of criticism of him.

A lot of it would seem to be sarcastic, though.

Truly a champion knock; I don't think more needs to be said.