Is Michael Clarke worthy of his Test Spot?

[Heisenberg_]

Everybody knows he was a talent, and if you couldn't see it your a moron, but finally he looks to be mature as a test batsmen, not throwing his wicket away at the early stages of his innings, instead making the good shots when they are there to be made hitting it along the ground through the infield, as opposed to through the air.
I said it when he was selected for the first test that this was going to be a big summer for him, and so far I have been completly right

 

[bus24]

The most talented youngster we have seen in a long time. He always looked to have great talent, but his head got too big too early at 23, winning the AB medal.

Looks capable of playing a very mature innings nowdays. You can see the technique has tightened up, showed that in Brisbane and looked terrific last night. You could tell he was on the brink of something special.

 

[Hugshawks]

The most talented youngster we have seen in a long time. He always looked to have great talent, but his head got too big too early at 23, winning the AB medal.

Looks capable of playing a very mature innings nowdays. You can see the technique has tightened up, showed that in Brisbane and looked terrific last night. You could tell he was on the brink of something special.

Here here. Hoping that his lengthy absense from the team has made him reliese his spot isn't a give, and that he's gonna have to continually improve, and that his spot is never solid. But if he can keep serving up performances like his Ashes ones, then he won't have a thing to worry about.

 

[CF]

Clark is definately looking like he could be a future number 4 ie replacing Martyn. In Martyns favor he had a great tour of the subcontinent recently and was pivotal in winning the ICC Champions Trophy. So one would think that a good innings is not too far away. The other hypothesis is that maybe Martyn has reached that point where his spot is just in the one day side. Our selectors are funny and do play favourites, so time will tell how the chips fall.

 

[SWANNIES RULE]

dan warna is a douche.

 

[Smokey_22]

The most talented youngster we have seen in a long time. He always looked to have great talent, but his head got too big too early at 23, winning the AB medal.

Looks capable of playing a very mature innings nowdays. You can see the technique has tightened up, showed that in Brisbane and looked terrific last night. You could tell he was on the brink of something special.

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2005/s1293991.htm

MICHAEL CLARKE: It's certainly not easy. It's been a great run for me, the last 12 months, but I know there's gonna come a time when unfortunately I'm not gonna score runs, and I just really hope that that support's there. I know the support from my team-mates, my family and friends will always be there through good and bad times, and the public have been brilliant for me over the last 12 months, but I hope that support continues when, you know, times aren't so good.

GEOFF HUTCHISON: What's mattered most so far? Has it been Test hundreds, blazing one-day centuries, a bag of wickets that you probably weren't expected to take, a baggy green and now the Allan Border Medal - does one deserve to be placed any higher than anything else?

MICHAEL CLARKE: No, I don't think so. I think the baggy green is the ultimate, and then I stand here today with the Allan Border Medal around my neck. That is - yeah, it's something I definitely - I haven't imagined receiving, so it's all very special. Like I said, it's been a dream run for me so far, and I've just got to keep working as hard as I can to continue taking each step, slowly but surely, but continue learning and improving my game, because I believe there's a lot I need to work on at the moment. I believe I am improving, and I'm certainly enjoying myself. (/quote)


Sounds like a big head to me.

 

[dan warna]

dan warna is a douche.

first century in two years and thats your best come back?

 

[bus24]

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2005/s1293991.htm

MICHAEL CLARKE: It's certainly not easy. It's been a great run for me, the last 12 months, but I know there's gonna come a time when unfortunately I'm not gonna score runs, and I just really hope that that support's there. I know the support from my team-mates, my family and friends will always be there through good and bad times, and the public have been brilliant for me over the last 12 months, but I hope that support continues when, you know, times aren't so good.

GEOFF HUTCHISON: What's mattered most so far? Has it been Test hundreds, blazing one-day centuries, a bag of wickets that you probably weren't expected to take, a baggy green and now the Allan Border Medal - does one deserve to be placed any higher than anything else?

MICHAEL CLARKE: No, I don't think so. I think the baggy green is the ultimate, and then I stand here today with the Allan Border Medal around my neck. That is - yeah, it's something I definitely - I haven't imagined receiving, so it's all very special. Like I said, it's been a dream run for me so far, and I've just got to keep working as hard as I can to continue taking each step, slowly but surely, but continue learning and improving my game, because I believe there's a lot I need to work on at the moment. I believe I am improving, and I'm certainly enjoying myself. (/quote)


Sounds like a big head to me.

Hes my favourite player, I am as delighted as anyone with his innings today, just fantastic

Its not what he said there, when you are performing so well you can slacken off and not really notice it. Pup has admitted he stopped working as hard as he was at an earlier stage.

Since he has been dropped, he has worked really hard, he is fitter, stronger and has strengthened his technique significantly. For that he has reaped the rewards today, which is absolutley fantastic

 

[beaver fever]

will be virtually impossible to axe after such a great performance today

 

[feral]

Do bears sh*t in the woods?

 

[ShearMagic9]

dan warna is a douche.

omg... you... only just figured that out?

 

[just maybe]

Apology accepted, guys.

Ridiculous. No way I am apologising. Since when does a slow 100 on a flat pitch mean a batsman is brilliant?

All the technical problems are still there. Having said that, I was at the game today and gunning for him to get 100. I was very pleased he grabbed his chance and I was impressed by the fact he seems to have improved his temperament and shot selection.

It was a much better innings than his streaky 50 in Brisbane.

I also wanted him to get 100 because I would prefer Martyn to make way for Watson than Clarke at this point. Martyn, sadly, is done like a Christmas ham.

Having said that, my caveat is that Clarke should remain at 6. He simply is not good enough to hold down the No 4 spot. No 6 is his spot, it is where he has scored his runs, let him develop there. At no level has he proven worthy of a Test No 4.

That is all.

 

[Pykie]

Ridiculous. No way I am apologising. Since when does a slow 100 on a flat pitch mean a batsman is brilliant?

All the technical problems are still there. Having said that, I was at the game today and gunning for him to get 100. I was very pleased he grabbed his chance and I was impressed by the fact he seems to have improved his temperament and shot selection.

It was a much better innings than his streaky 50 in Brisbane.

I also wanted him to get 100 because I would prefer Martyn to make way for Watson than Clarke at this point. Martyn, sadly, is done like a Christmas ham.

Having said that, my caveat is that Clarke should remain at 6. He simply is not good enough to hold down the No 4 spot. No 6 is his spot, it is where he has scored his runs, let him develop there. At no level has he proven worthy of a Test No 4.

That is all.

Agree Partly, this should be the batting lineup for Perth.

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Watson
Gilchrist
Warne
Lee???
Clarke
McGrath

That is if Watson plays, which is almost assured he will, as long as he is fit, and going on the fact that Lee plays, which i hope the arrogant overated hack doesnt, put McGill and Tait in, they actually ARE strike bowlers.

 

[R00StaR]

What a great knock, Clarke should be here to stay now. For mine he showed a tighter technique and generally showed a new maturity in that innings. For Australia’s sake id like to think that’s his coming of age innings.

 

[bus24]

Personally, I'd like him to stay at 6, 5 tops.

He was too young when they put him up to 5 initially and struggled. So then what did they do, they put him up to four.

Must also be mentioned that Pup played really well against the new ball. Did showcase a much tighter technique.

 

[Cassius_Clay]

first century in two years and thats your best come back?

Well it's true.

You have no idea at all.

All your defense is 'He averages 40 in FC'. Blah, blah, blah. Stop living in the past. Currently our 4th best bat and is totally proving you to be the imbecile we all already knew

 

[Can Shop]

I'm on your side cassius clay but if he is 4th best bat at moment in our side who is above and below i predict that Ponting 1st Hussey 2nd who is above him is it JL, haydn, or gilly, marto would be below him on form

 

[Junior55]

I'm on your side cassius clay but if he is 4th best bat at moment in our side who is above and below i predict that Ponting 1st Hussey 2nd who is above him is it JL, haydn, or gilly, marto would be below him on form

Ponting
Hussey
Langer
Clarke

and Hayden , Gilly and Marto all below those 4

 

[Cassius_Clay]

because one innings is a career?

Poor dan warna

 

[Cassius_Clay]

Phil Jaques > Hodge/Clarke

Really?

I dont think so

 

[Cassius_Clay]

That statement is so incredibly wrong, unlike Clarke, Martyn looked in control for his innings up until he was out, he was far and away the best batsman in the ICC Champions Trophy.

At no stage did clarke look in control, Flintoff made him look second rate and he scored the majority of his runs off Giles.

Clarke hasnt earned, nor does he deserve to be in that side

Haha. Stay off the cricket board buddy.