Michael Clarke

[BeeGee]

So the Younis Khan thread and the Michael Clarke thread have both turned into discussions about Indian bowlers.

The ****ing BCCI is behind this, I'm sure.

 

[Blocky]

Clarke has always struck me as someone likely to end up with an average in the mid forties who just happened to have an insanely good purple patch for a couple years.

 

[Jono]

So the Younis Khan thread and the Michael Clarke thread have both turned into discussions about Indian bowlers.

The ****ing BCCI is behind this, I'm sure.

This was good

 

[uvelocity]

So the Younis Khan thread and the Michael Clarke thread have both turned into discussions about Indian bowlers.

The ****ing BCCI is behind this, I'm sure.

will end up as tendulkar v murali v warne v bradman

 

[Tangles]

Some of the home vs away difference could just be that touring makes managing his back problem harder. I hope he still has some of his best left because it's great to watch and we need it.

 

[GirtBySea]

Whether he likes it or not, he should have stepped up and batted at three.
Maxwell is not there yet as a Test player, yet alone a number three. It may not be Clarke's preferred position but as a fill-in while Watson is absent, he should really be batting there.

 

[Tangles]

I'd rather TPC at 3 if someone has to be promoted. Better form recently and Clarke doesn't bat better at 3. Would have worked in UAE but I have reservations about either for a home series.

Is it time to put Clarke back at 5 and have Smith at 4? If his back is getting worse then that might be the best bet to get the best out of him.

 

[harsh.ag]

Is it time to put Clarke back at 5 and have Smith at 4? If his back is getting worse then that might be the best bet to get the best out of him.

Definitely imo. Get Clarke in where he would make the most runs. Period. Smith can handle number 4, he is a champ.

 

[smash84]

Who is TPC?

 

[Tangles]

Steve Smith. The Peoples Champ.

 

[smash84]

oh, would never have guessed

 

[Dan]

oh, would never have guessed

Come on Smali, lift your game.

 

[Spark]

Why an Ashes victory could end Michael Clarke's Australia career | Sport | The Guardian

this article sums up my thoughts pretty neatly. i don't think we'll see clarke for much longer unless he wants to stick around to mentor the next captain.

 

[the big bambino]

Highlights of his dismissals in UAE made you wonder if his back problem is winning and if so is he better of retiring now? Can't really agree with the argument that proposes he stay on until the next ashes if his form is conditional on an ailment that's getting worse. If that is the reason he's not scoring runs then its predictive of failure in England.

Neither was Clarke always a natural player of short pitched bowling. I remember him being sorted by Shaoib and being bounced out on an Indian wicket by an out of form Sharma. To his credit he admitted the problem, obviously worked on it and became a great player. For the first time I've started to think he can't physically take it any longer. So I'm interested in the coming home series to see if the suspicion is confirmed. If it is it might be time to go then. As an aside its a funny thing some would've had Clarke at 3 while knowing his back would eventually restrict his movement against the new ball when the fast bowlers are at their angriest.

 

[Spark]

he might be better off, but he won't. there's no way he isn't going to england, so that's the first realistic point at which he could retire.

 

[the big bambino]

Yeah its just the article made a good argument why he shouldn't go in the 1st place but Clarke's is an extraordinary circumstance.

 

[Spark]

You do wonder what might have been had he had a functioning back.

Might have even been a decent all-rounder, given his early spin-bowling prowess

 

[harsh.ag]

Highlights of his dismissals in UAE made you wonder if his back problem is winning and if so is he better of retiring now? Can't really agree with the argument that proposes he stay on until the next ashes if his form is conditional on an ailment that's getting worse. If that is the reason he's not scoring runs then its predictive of failure in England.

Neither was Clarke always a natural player of short pitched bowling. I remember him being sorted by Shaoib and being bounced out on an Indian wicket by an out of form Sharma. To his credit he admitted the problem, obviously worked on it and became a great player. For the first time I've started to think he can't physically take it any longer. So I'm interested in the coming home series to see if the suspicion is confirmed. If it is it might be time to go then. As an aside its a funny thing some would've had Clarke at 3 while knowing his back would eventually restrict his movement against the new ball when the fast bowlers are at their angriest.

Yeah, Clarke at 3 never made sense. He has always been more of a Mark Waugh than a Ricky Ponting. Where Clarke really comes into his own, for some reason, is with an attacking partner at the other end. His best came in the company of Ponting and Hussey.

Also, the post needs less of redundant phrases like "out of form Sharma".

 

[the big bambino]

Some of our most decent left arm finger spinners have been batsmen - Clarke, Border, Inverarity. Sorry scratch Inverarity as I did say batsmen.

 

[harsh.ag]

You do wonder what might have been had he had a functioning back.

Might have even been a decent all-rounder, given his early spin-bowling prowess

TPC's debut would have been pushed back by 5 years. So, all in all, the bad back a blessing in disguise.