Michael Clarke: Leading Australia by example - Opinion
The first Test between Australia and South Africa at Brisbane started with the latter’s dominance as the visitors posted a very competitive total of 450 runs on the board and had the home team rattling at 40 for three in their first
innings. At that stage, it looked as if the Proteas would run through the Australian batting line-up but http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Clarke-c1978 came to his team’s rescue and played a captain’s knock under trying circumstances.
The Aussie skipper was ably supported by the left-handed opener, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Andrew-Graham-Downton-c44379 Cowan, as the duo accumulated 259 runs for the fourth-wicket-partnership, taking their team out of the troubled waters. After Cowan’s unfortunate run-out, Clarke was
joined by the experienced, Michael Hussey, who took the attack to the South African pacers and helped his side dominate the encounter.
The two left-handers, Cowan and Hussey, perished after completing their tons but the Kangaroos’ skipper remained firmed and smashed an unbeaten 259, which included 26 stunning boundaries, making the South African bowlers look helpless
on occasions.
It was because of the right-handed middle-order batsman’s efforts that his side were able to take a handsome lead of 115 runs in the first innings. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 scored his runs at a fascinating pace of more than 65 runs per 100 balls, which
is extra-ordinary in the five-day format.
After the match, the stylish New South Welshman revealed that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shane-Keith-Warne-c89672 always taught him to play with a positive intent, especially against high-class bowlers, who hate the batsmen going after them. Clarke followed the legendary
cricketer’s instructions and emerged as victorious in the Brisbane Test.
“One of the things Warney has taught me over the years is that the better the bowling the more positive you have to be,” Clarke expressed. “That was my intent from the first ball I faced yesterday. I wanted to be nice and positive, play my way and put it
back on the South African bowlers. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MEK-Hussey-c1942 also showed great intent to score very freely.”
The 31-year-old cricketer has always been categorised among the most talented players in international cricket but he seems to have relished the opportunity of leading his country at the ultimate stage of the game. Ever since Clarke has taken over the leadership
from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RT-Ponting-c2377, the right-handed batsman has looked a different player and has been performing out of his skin.
The stroke-maker smashed some extra-ordinary knocks last year against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750. In a losing cause at Cape Town in 2011, the Aussie skipper played a gem of an innings (151) on a green-top against one of the finest bowling attacks of the world.
Later in the season, the middle-order batsman had a wonderful series against India, scoring a triple-century and a double-hundred as well.
The Aussie skipper mentioned, “I want to keep making runs and help this team win. If we're not winning, you won't see me happy.”
In the 84 Tests, 221 One Day Internationals and 34 T20s Clarke has played for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, he has already scored more than 14 thousand runs with superb averages. With the kind of form Clarke has shown in the previous 18 months, the right-hander
looks set for many more.
These are great signs for Australia as they have a captain in Clarke, who can lead the team by example, which is a massive advantage in international cricket.
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