Michael Clarke

[Hurricane]

Not really @ the point of the opening post. But just on Clarke in general. He deserves to be the toast of CW. He would definitely make the world XI and seems to be going from strength to strength. I didn't like some of his public statements at the time Symonds was kicked out of the team - but I am not here to admire his statesmanship - as a cricketer he has tremendous guts and while watching various aussie collapses I used to think they would always fold if their openers failed. But him (and hussey) seem to be made of staunch stuff. Aussie fans should be fiercely proud of him and if not then they don't deserve him.

I value character in batting more so than flamboyance and he has heart and character.

[Ruckus]

Yeah Clarke seems to be criticized (maybe not on CW, but in general) so much more than is warranted. Must be his pretty boy face or something. The man is glorious.

[benchmark00]

For mine, Michael Clarke is the best batsman in the world. So he's not just making the world XI, he's probably captaining it.

[Daemon]

Originally Posted by Hurricane

Not really @ the point of the opening post. But just on Clarke in general. He deserves to be the toast of CW. He would definitely make the world XI and seems to be going from strength to strength. I didn't like some of his public statements at the time Symonds was kicked out of the team - but I am not here to admire his statesmanship - as a cricketer he has tremendous guts and while watching various aussie collapses I used to think they would always fold if their openers failed. But him (and hussey) seem to be made of staunch stuff. Aussie fans should be fiercely proud of him and if not then they don't deserve him.

I value character in batting more so than flamboyance and he has heart and character.

Can you please elaborate on what you mean by heart and character?

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by benchmark00

For mine, Michael Clarke is the best batsman in the world. So he's not just making the world XI, he's probably captaining it.

Yeah same. As good as Amla etc. are, the thing that really gives Clarke the edge for me in recent times is his ability to dominate and change the momentum of a match.

[flibbertyjibber]

The Michael Clarke that toured England last time was clearly no flat track bully, just a brilliant player. The one player I am really looking forward to watching next summer.

[Xuhaib]

Originally Posted by benchmark00

For mine, Michael Clarke is the best batsman in the world. So he's not just making the world XI, he's probably captaining it.

On current form yes its a shootout between him and Hash.Hash has been more well rounded while Clarke is a better game changer.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/eng...;type=allround

Even as captain he is averaging just 37 away which is even below his career away average so yes the jury is still very much out for him. ATM he is ATG material at home while just being fairly OK away.

[Hurricane]

Originally Posted by Daemon

Can you please elaborate on what you mean by heart and character?

Short answer:
I think when it comes down to it I mean the willingness to dig in an do a repair job on an inning.

Long Answer:
Plenty of batsman can score runs if they walk to the crease when the score is 300-3. Not everyone can fight the momentum a bowling side has at 40-3 or even 30-3.

To bat for 4-6 hours or more requires discipline and concentration. That level of concentration and resilience to pressure for hours on end tests character and personality attributes. And the determination needed when the other team is totally amped because a batsman has walked out at 35-4 is unique only to cricket. To succeed when your team is failing requires you to pay a price and that price is concentration and focused emotion. Not everyone can do it. He can. And it takes a toll on you. I remember that Greatbatch paid too much of a price saving one test match and he was never the same afterwards.

[BackFootPunch]

I remember the good old days when Clarke was the least scary batsman in the Aussie top 7. Sure he could play an awesome innings and take the game away but I never used to fear him.

Now, however, he's a colossus. If I had to pick a batsman to bat for my financial well being, I'd pick Amla. But if I had to pick a batsman to bat for my life itself, I'd pick Clarke every time.

[Burgey]

Has Clarke happened to play the vast majority of tests at home since his golden run of form began?

I can't recall his WI stats but he had good tours of SA & SL, as has been noted, plus a pretty good 09 Ashes series. I dunno, is there a country he hasn't tonned up in, Pakistan aside?

[Spark]

He had an OK tour of WI, not great, but then again those were the sort of pitches where 50 was quite an effort.

[AlanJLegend]

Clarke is definitely on the road to being an all time great IMO.

I'll be the first to admit that his double and triple against India was against some absolutely shocking bowling, but I don't think that can really be held against him considering his tons in South Africa and Sri Lanka. Anybody can make a big score on a flat track in a draw, but what I love about Clarke is that he makes big scores and forms massive partnerships with the likes of Cowan, Ponting and Hussey. It is pretty difficult to lose a match after putting on 2x200 parnerships in an innings.

[Flem274*]

Currently right up there for being the best batsman in the world imo.

[Garson007]

Certainly Amla, Kallis, Clarke and Sangakkara walks into a world XI. Not much space left for batsmen in that team.

[Flem274*]

Chanderpaul wants a fair crack though.