The Michael Clarke appreciation thread

[Jono]

Originally Posted by Burgey

Better stopper f the ball at backward point tbh.

Honestly, can't believe anyone could say Clarke > Dhoni at T20s, or ODIs for that matter.

Haha, that's why I said with batting

But yeah I agree, I just don't buy the "there's room for conventional batsman and slap and hope players" because that's like saying anyone who scores at a higher strike rate than Clarke must be slap and hope. Raina isn't slap and hope, neither is Morgan, Dhoni, Watson etc. They play cricket strokes, just they're much better than Clarke.

No one is saying you need a team full of Yusuf Pathans. But Clarke wouldn't make the 3rd best T20 world XI in my honest opinion. He hasn't proved anything at domestic or international level. At least Dhoni has proven it at domestic.

[benchmark00]

Originally Posted by Jono

Haha, that's why I said with batting

But yeah I agree, I just don't buy the "there's room for conventional batsman and slap and hope players" because that's like saying anyone who scores at a higher strike rate than Clarke must be slap and hope. Raina isn't slap and hope, neither is Morgan, Dhoni, Watson etc. They play cricket strokes, just they're much better than Clarke.

No one is saying you need a team full of Yusuf Pathans. But Clarke wouldn't make the 3rd best T20 world XI in my honest opinion. He hasn't proved anything at domestic or international level. At least Dhoni has proven it at domestic.

Nah you've missed the point, dude.

The reason why these players can score at such a high scoring rate is because if it doesn't come off there are other players such as Clarke and MHussey who can still post a competitive total.

I'm not saying Clarke is better than Dhoni at t20's, I called you on your outrageous call of Dhoni is 50 times better. If he was he'd have a 50 times better strike rate, average etc. Just a stupid call.

So he's not in the best 18 batsmen in the world in t20? So what. He still has a ROLE to play within the Australian team.

And calling Clarke on his lack of t20 domestic form is irrelevant, he's only played 5 or so domestic games hasn't he?

[Nnanden]

Originally Posted by GingerFurball

Nnanden, please do not publically accuse people of having multiple accounts.

You're Sir Alex!

[Jono]

Originally Posted by benchmark00

Nah you've missed the point, dude.

The reason why these players can score at such a high scoring rate is because if it doesn't come off there are other players such as Clarke and MHussey who can still post a competitive total.

I'm not saying Clarke is better than Dhoni at t20's, I called you on your outrageous call of Dhoni is 50 times better. If he was he'd have a 50 times better strike rate, average etc. Just a stupid call.

So he's not in the best 18 batsmen in the world in t20? So what. He still has a ROLE to play within the Australian team.

And calling Clarke on his lack of t20 domestic form is irrelevant, he's only played 5 or so domestic games hasn't he?

Haven't debated with Benchy in ages, I'm pretty excited

The problem I have with saying Clarke fills a role, is that his role isn't hard. There are other batsman who can play that role in Australia (and the world) and THEN also be able to launch if/when required. Clarke has only one way of batting, that's silly for a team that has the potential to be the best T20 team in the world.

If Clarke was one of the best 6 T20 batsman in Australia, this would be less of an issue, as it would just meant he sucked but there are no better options. But there clearly are.

Finally, I don't believe I'm missing the point because your post defended Clarke by saying that there is room for "slap and hope" players as well as "classical stroke play". But there are players who are "classical stroke play" batsman, that score at a much faster rate than Clarke. Watson is the best example. Just bats like he always bats, except he's actually good. Dhoni too, whislt his batting style isn't classical, his mindset is. He pushes and nudges, and hits boundaries when its necessary. Times his innings to perfection. No way can you ever suggest Clarke times his innings well, even when he bats with other players who are ripping it on the other end. Clarke doesn't rotate the strike enough.

WIth regards to Clarke's domestic T20s, isn't that the point? The guy doesn't play Big Bash, he doesn't play IPL (because he believes he's worth over $1mill apparently)... how is the guy actually going to improve his T20 ability if he doesn't play? Yet he's captain of a team which I believe should be the best in the world.

Just makes no sense.

[benchmark00]

Look, the simple fact is that imo Clarke is being used in a poor fashion. He shouldn't be coming in when they have massive momentum, but that's not to say he doesn't have a role to play.

Who are you suggesting in Australia could play the role he should be playing? You mentioned Watson but he's allready in the team.

FTR, I wasn't referring to anyone in particular when I said slap and hope, it was merely a term I coined to describe that there is a place for the two extremes in a t20 team.

I don't think he's too bad at rotating the strike itbt, well at least not getting hugely bogged down. His problem when compared to the really good t20 players is that he doesn't hit enough boundaries.

[benchmark00]

Besides, being a Richmond fan I thought you'd be used to the idea of having mediocrity in a team

[Jono]

These are the Australian players I think would be better suited to the Australian T20 team:

Hodge (obviously no chance of being selected)
Hopes (is he injured?)
Marsh
Paine
Voges
Ferguson (injured still I think?)
Bailey
Rana Naved-ul-Hasan

[Jono]

Originally Posted by benchmark00

Besides, being a Richmond fan I thought you'd be used to the idea of having mediocrity in a team

So brutal


but I have no ability to retort

[benchmark00]

Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls for t20 captaincy.

[Streetwise]

Originally Posted by Jono

WIth regards to Clarke's domestic T20s, isn't that the point? The guy doesn't play Big Bash, he doesn't play IPL (because he believes he's worth over $1mill apparently)... how is the guy actually going to improve his T20 ability if he doesn't play? Yet he's captain of a team which I believe should be the best in the world.

Just makes no sense.

Where did you hear this?

[Jono]

Whilst in 2008 he didn't play IPL for family and national reasons, last year he didn't play because he valued himself at US$1 mill, which no one was willing to pay (with good reason).

Clarke prices himself out of IPL | The Daily Telegraph
Pup prices himself out of IPL market - Cricket - Fox Sports

[Streetwise]

Originally Posted by Jono

Whilst in 2008 he didn't play IPL for family and national reasons, last year he didn't play because he valued himself at US$1 mill, which no one was willing to pay (with good reason).

Clarke prices himself out of IPL | The Daily Telegraph
Pup prices himself out of IPL market - Cricket - Fox Sports

I suppose you have your reasons for making up things and I'm not interested why.

But man you reek of hatred.

[Bobisback]

Nice news articles Jono. Well written.

[andyc]

Originally Posted by Streetwise

I suppose you have your reasons for making up things and I'm not interested why.

But man you reek of hatred.

You're clearly just trying to troll with posts like this Streetwise, and given your history I'd strongly suggest that you either contribute positively to the discussion or don't contribute at all.

[Streetwise]

Originally Posted by andyc

You're clearly just trying to troll with posts like this Streetwise, and given your history I'd strongly suggest that you either contribute positively to the discussion or don't contribute at all.

Michael Clarke released a statement on why he withdrew before the auction and his reasons

AUSTRALIA vice-captain Michael Clarke says he will not play in this year's Indian Premier League.

Clarke said on Thursday his decision to skip the lucrative Twenty20 tournament was made because Australia has such a busy international schedule coming up.

"I won't be going to the IPL,'' Clarke said. "The most important thing for me is we've only got a couple of weeks off, we've got a very busy schedule.

"With me, with my body and time with my family, I want time off this year.''
Clarke pulls out of IPL auction | Cricket News | Indian Premier League 2009 | Cricinfo.com

Read where the source of the information comes from in the stories posted by jono, it is someone unamed in India.


I wont post anymore on it as I can see jono is in your signature which means you have only one thing on your mind.