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Michael Clarke Discussion thread

In which format(s), if any, should Michael Clarke be playing for Australia?

  • Total voters
    60
  • Poll closed .
Furball

Furball

Evil Scotsman
Clarke's stats since the World Cup: Batting records | One-Day Internationals | Cricinfo Statsguru | Cricinfo.com

His SR doesn't make for good reading, although so far this year he appears to be turning a corner back to his pre-WC form.

There's nothing wrong with plodding along to 40 off 60 balls if you've got the game to change gear and start hitting towards the death. It's for precisely this reason I'd have White ahead of him in the ODI side just now. However, given that Clarke has averaged less than 3 boundaries an innings in the last 3 years, it's debatable whether he's got that side to his game.

If you're going to plod along to 40 off 60 then get out, then it puts too much pressure on the lower order to hit almost from the word go.

edit: Have voted Tests and ODIs because I think if he gets his mojo back, there's definitely a place for him in the side. He shouldn't be an automatic pick however.

His T20 captaincy is a joke. Outwith T20Is, he's played 6 games of domestic Twenty20 cricket, the majority of which were played presumably at Hampshire. He has neither the experience or the talent to be in the side right now, the captaincy should have gone to White.
 
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marc71178

marc71178

Eyes not spreadsheets
GingerFurball said:
Clarke's stats since the World Cup: Batting records | One-Day Internationals | Cricinfo Statsguru | Cricinfo.com

His SR doesn't make for good reading, although so far this year he appears to be turning a corner back to his pre-WC form.

There's nothing wrong with plodding along to 40 off 60 balls if you've got the game to change gear and start hitting towards the death. It's for precisely this reason I'd have White ahead of him in the ODI side just now. However, given that Clarke has averaged less than 3 boundaries an innings in the last 3 years, it's debatable whether he's got that side to his game.

If you're going to plod along to 40 off 60 then get out, then it puts too much pressure on the lower order to hit almost from the word go.
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It's the Owais Shah effect (only Shah doesn't make it that far or that quickly usually)
 
wfdu_ben91

wfdu_ben91

International 12th Man
His Test batting is fairly overrated. Not so much so that he should be dropped but his far from one of the best batsman in world cricket.
 
Mr Mxyzptlk

Mr Mxyzptlk

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One of the best batsmen in Australia, surely. And that's all that matters as far as getting selected to the Australian national side.
 
BoyBrumby

BoyBrumby

Englishman
Rugby Union. Preferrably at 1st 5/8th. Find the idea of Schalk Burger or Richie McCaw repeatedly flattening him very amusing.

Hard bloke to warm to, it must be said.
 
Himannv

Himannv

Hall of Fame Member
I think he should just play tests alone. He's been very good and reasonably consistent in tests while he has always appeared lacking in the shorter formats and generally depends on his batting partner to change games rather than taking on the mantle himself.

Nothing bad about being a specialist Test match player though.
 
Top_Cat

Top_Cat

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2nd dig of tests, when the game is either all over bar the shouting or a dead rubber is when I'd play him. Is fast developing a Dean Jones-esque propensity for scoring runs when needed least.
 
Burgey

Burgey

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Sir Alex said:
He is quite dire in ODIs with his super slow scoring rate. However he is still value in test matches.
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He's been a bit better of late tbf. I'm thinking and hoping his ablity vs spin in the longer form might hold him in good stead with a WC on the subcontinent due soon.

All that provided he's in some decent form going in of course.

He's a monty for the test team - his form the past 12 months has been good, albeit he failed to convert many starts this summer just gone.

I think he could quite easily sit out t20s - I think we've got better options, but it won't happen.
 
Julian87

Julian87

State Captain
I'm really not sure here. I'd always want him in a one day squad. Has to go to the world cup. No way would he be in my T20 side though.

I think his biggest weakness is thathe struggles to clear the in field off anything but spin bowling. WHen he tries, he hits the ball at catching height, often resulting in getting caught in front of the wicket after a frustrating or boring 40+. He simply needs to gain this ability to become a great player. Because with 5 blokes on the boundary you need to either clear the ropes or the heads of the blokes inside the ring, Clarke does neither.
 
Prince EWS

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
While I don't think he's been particularly good in ODIs of late, and while I can definitely see a good argument for giving him the axe, I don't think I'm quite prepared to do it yet.

The main (only) argument for dropping him is his strike rate; he's certainly been scoring enough runs. While that's a perfectly valid argument, I do think it's been blown slightly out of proportion. One must look at Clarke's role - he either comes in during the middle overs when the field is back and the aim of the game is to score at about 4.5rpo while conserving wickets for the late assault, or at the start of the innings after Australia have lost two quick ones when the aim of the game is to score at about 4rpo and rubuild the innings before upping the rate. I think #4 in ODIs for most teams has become a position for a good old-fashioned ODI batsman, who scores runs with awesome regularity but at a reduced pace - this batsman ensures the total that is set is competitive while still leaving the door open for a massive total if they late assault is effective. Look at some of the other ODI #4s - Yousuf, Chanderpaul, Kallis, Jayawardene - they all play that same role.

Clarke's still been a little too slow for this, really, but not as slow as his strike rate of 68 or whatever would have you believe. His problem has more been his propensity to just get out when he's well-set it's time to really go at the bowling in the late overs than what he's actually done in the middle overs IMO. If he was dropped I wouldn't really cry foul, but I honestly don't think there have been many situations where a different batsman would have given Australia a bigger score. I think it's been more a tactical thing than a physical thing with him.

He definitely shouldn't be in the T20 team though.
 
andyc

andyc

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Would be interested to hear from those who said he should be in T20s as well.
 
SirBloody Idiot

SirBloody Idiot

Cricketer Of The Year
Who really is banging down on the door to replace him, though?

Ferguson is injured and isn't a better player than Clarke anyway, whilst all the other domestic options have either been tried and failed at one day international level (Hussey, Hodge, etc.) or are a step back anyway (Bailey, Cosgrove, Voges).
 
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