Cricket: Michael Clarke up for Challenge
Heir apparent, Michael Clarke is Australia’s captain in waiting but currently he is focused on his batting. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 is hopeful that he will succeed at the number four position in the batting order which has been assigned to him recently by skipper Ponting.
Clarke is already holding the reins of Australia in the shortest form of cricket, i.e. T20. Clarke was made captain of the T20 side after Ricky Ponting opted out and took retirement from the format. However, Clarke was pathetic with the bat as he led the Aussies to the World T20 final, in the Caribbean this year. He made nominal runs in the tournament with a batting average of 15.53, as the Kangaroos lost to arch-rivals England in the final at Barbados in May.
Clarke has mostly played at the position of 5 in his career but keeping in mind his recent performances, he has been elevated to one spot up in batting order by Test captain Ricky Ponting. On the other hand, ‘Mr. Dependable’ of Australian cricket Michael Hussey has been given fifth spot. Clarke does not have fond memories of playing at four. Playing at four, he top scored with 39 in five innings after the 2005 Ashes before he was dropped from the Australian side. After his return to the national team, he was positioned at No.5.
Commenting on this, Australian vice-captain said, “Ricky came and grabbed Michael Hussey and myself at training the morning of the Derby game and told us what was happening. For me it hasn’t fazed me. When I was younger I cared more about the position I batted.” He further added, “After getting dropped from the Australian team, for me it was always just about being (in) the team, it doesn’t matter where I bat.”
Batting up the order will allow Clarke more time to bat. Clarke, who holds a Test best score of 168 which he made against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 in Hobart earlier this year, will now be able to play longer and larger innings. Commenting on his new position, Clarke said, “You probably get in a little bit earlier against the newer ball and if you can make a big score, you can probably make a really big one, knowing you have got at least one more batter behind you. But my role doesn’t really change, you play the same way. I haven’t changed my game at all because I am batting No.4”.
Clarke will now be looking for an improved performance as Australia meets Pakistan at Headingley for the second and final Test. Clarke was below par in Lord’s as he scored a nominal 47 and 12 in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Yorkshire-c867’s headquarters when Australia defeated England by an innings in last year’s Ashes. However, Clarke is cautious as he prepares himself for a challenge at Headingley.
Commenting on being dropped from the team and his degenerative back, Clarke said, “I never think you have cemented a place when you are playing at the highest level, in any sport. I think everyone’s spot is exactly the same; you are under pressure all the time. There is always someone who wants your spot, whether you are captain or you have played five Tests”.
Meanwhile, Australia’s preparations for the Test against Pakistan suffered a setback when Lord’s hero Marcus North missed a training injury due to illness. North, who surprised the cricket world after he grabbed a career best 6 for 55 on the penultimate day of the first Test, missed a training session after getting diagnosed with a stomach illness. North has already missed one Test because of the same illness during the Australian tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bryce-McGain-c1202. Additionally, Ben Hilfenhaus also missed bowling after sustaining a shoulder injury when he fell awkwardly in the field at Lord’s. If replacements are needed, then uncapped Usman Khawja and Peter George will be called up for national duty.
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