The Michael Clarke appreciation thread

[social]

Selectors can take some of the blame, definitely, but has Clarke really tried to improve his T20 game? Surely he's had time to play some domestic T20 cricket somewhere on this planet. I know he went through some **** over the summer with Bingle and what not, but still.

Unfortunately, it was never about whether he was the best candidate for the job

I think I mentioned that I sat with certain members of the Oz hierarchy after the first day of the Lords test last year and they categorically stated that if the team lost the Ashes in 2009, then Ponting would be captain until after the next England tour as:

a. they thought he deserved the opportunity to remove the only blemish on his captaincy cv; and

b. in any case, Clarke was not considered "fit" to hold the position because of his behaviour whilst in "that relationship."

Having heard that, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that he was given the t20 captaincy as both a trade-off and in the hope that he would mature sufficiently to be considered a worthy candidate.

Tbh, if people were being selected on merit:

1. Clarke or Katich would be the test captain as Ponting has lost 2 series in Eng that were basically considered to be unlosable;

2. Clarke would be the odi captain; and

3. Clarke would be nowhere near the t20 setup

 

[Johnners]

Failing to see why, above all else, Clarke would be the captain of the ODI if selected on merit? How exactly does Ponting not merit having the captaincy of the ODI team?

 

[Jayzamann]

Clarke concedes he was 'not up to scratch' | Cricket News | ICC World Twenty20 2010 | Cricinfo.com

"There's no doubt that the selectors will need to have a look at my performances," he said in an unusually candid remark. "I certainly know they haven't been up to scratch through this whole tournament and probably in Twenty20 cricket in general. I'm sure the selectors will sit down and have a look and if I'm not the right guy for No. 3 and the captaincy then they'll make that decision."

Good on ya pup.

Calling a spade a spade. I really didn't expect that from him.

 

[Spark]

Is it possible that Michael Clarke cost Australia the World Cup?

Because that's the way the scorecard looks to me.

Partly, but 150 should never have been as easy to get on that pitch as England made it.

 

[pasag]

Clarke is our best T20 player: Haddin.

Clarke concedes he was 'not up to scratch' | Cricket News | ICC World Twenty20 2010 | Cricinfo.com

"There's no doubt that the selectors will need to have a look at my performances," he said in an unusually candid remark. "I certainly know they haven't been up to scratch through this whole tournament and probably in Twenty20 cricket in general. I'm sure the selectors will sit down and have a look and if I'm not the right guy for No. 3 and the captaincy then they'll make that decision."

But....BUT.....

 

[Jono]

... but everyone knows Haddin has something wrong in his head.

 

[pasag]

... but everyone knows Haddin has something wrong in his head.

BUT....

link

 

[slippy]

If Michael Clarke wants to continue playing twenty 20 cricket for Australia he has to open the batting, then he can beat the field by playing orthodox cricketing shots in the first 6 overs.

 

[Jayzamann]

If Michael Clarke wants to continue playing twenty 20 cricket for Australia he has to open the batting, then he can beat the field by playing orthodox cricketing shots in the first 6 overs.

He really should swallow his pride and get whatever he can to play in next years IPL (preferably for one of the new franchises, more likely to get games) and actually get his head around t20 cricket. An excellent point was made (in this thread, iirc) that a lot of the supposed 'old hats' who were pigeon-holed as test specialists in IPL1 and are doing well for themselves now (Tendyla, Dadi, Jayawardene, even Kallis to an extent), it only took them time. It remains to be seen whether their test form is affected, though.

Thing is, if Clarke (who is still young) can throw himself into t20 with an IPL franchise and for NSW, play a few dozen games a year, who knows where he'll be in 24 months? We might even have a thread without a hint of irony. !!!

 

[GIMH]

@ those who voted for "T20s only" option.

Stand by my decision tbh

 

[Furball]

Thing is, if Clarke (who is still young) can throw himself into t20 with an IPL franchise and for NSW, play a few dozen games a year, who knows where he'll be in 24 months? We might even have a thread without a hint of irony. !!!

If you were a NSW selector, would you pick him for the Big Bash?

NSW are the current Champions League holders, have won the Big Bash once and been runners up once, why would they disrupt what's been a good team in order to fit in a player who isn't a proven T20 player?

edit:
Warner
Watson
Hughes
Katich
Thornley
Henriques
D. Smith
S. Smith

Where exactly does Clarke fit into that lineup?

 

[vic_orthdox]

If Michael Clarke wants to continue playing twenty 20 cricket for Australia he has to open the batting, then he can beat the field by playing orthodox cricketing shots in the first 6 overs.

Would he be more effective? Yes.
Would he be more effective than other options? No.

 

[vic_orthdox]

If you were a NSW selector, would you pick him for the Big Bash?

NSW are the current Champions League holders, have won the Big Bash once and been runners up once, why would they disrupt what's been a good team in order to fit in a player who isn't a proven T20 player?

edit:
Warner
Watson
Hughes
Katich
Thornley
Henriques
D. Smith
S. Smith

Where exactly does Clarke fit into that lineup?

He'd play ahead of Thornely, no doubt. Even before Thornely missed out on a contract.

 

[NUFAN]

If you were a NSW selector, would you pick him for the Big Bash?

NSW are the current Champions League holders, have won the Big Bash once and been runners up once, why would they disrupt what's been a good team in order to fit in a player who isn't a proven T20 player?

edit:
Warner
Watson
Hughes
Katich
Thornley
Henriques
D. Smith
S. Smith

Where exactly does Clarke fit into that lineup?

He fits in at 5 in that lineup, seeing as though Thornley doesn't have a contract with NSW.

Edit: Beaten!

 

[andyc]

Would much rather see a youngster like Khawaja playing there though.

 

[NUFAN]

Yeah I would rather Khawaja, Haddin and NSW's overseas recruitment Dilshan too.

Maybe Clarke could be an ambassador for the new World Series that Hrithik is creating

 

[Furball]

He fits in at 5 in that lineup, seeing as though Thornley doesn't have a contract with NSW.

Edit: Beaten!

Fair enough, was just listing names off the top of my head. Surely though, from a NSW perspective, there'd be as much value in developing Khawaja as a T20 player?

 

[vic_orthdox]

Fair enough, was just listing names off the top of my head. Surely though, from a NSW perspective, there'd be as much value in developing Khawaja as a T20 player?

Maybe purely from a cricketing operations perspective, but from a Cricket NSW point of view, they'd much rather have Clarke playing for crowds, promotion, sponsors and also keeping Cricket Aus. happy.

 

[Top_Cat]

Yep agreed. And if Clarke has serious amibitions to be a serious T20 player, than NSW (seriously) have to give him a spot and he needs an IPL contract (seriously). He needs time on the park post-haste.

 

[pasag]

Which IPL side would buy him? I can't see any way he'd get a contract now.