Ashes Diary: From Pup to Mongrel

2010-11 Ashes Betting / Ed Hawkins / 01 January 2011 /

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Michael Clarke must come of age

"Despite the selectors making all the respectful noises about Clarke only keeping the seat warm for Ponting, it would be extraordinary if ‘Punter’ was to lead, let alone play, for Australia again"

Ed Hawkins profiles new Australia captain Michael Clarke and suggests a change of nickname

The first thing that Australia captain Michael Clarke might like to do is come up with a new nickname. 'Pup' does not cut it. Certainly it is not the required moniker for the leader of a team which, in the absence of enough quality players, must show snarl and bite. 'Mongrel' might be the most apt word right now for Clarke and Australia.

Clarke, for so long the golden boy of Australia cricket and heir apparent to Ricky Ponting, will lead Australia for the first time against England at the SCG. It should be the start of a lengthy run for the new man as Ponting, surely, will not return.

Despite the selectors making all the respectful noises about Clarke only keeping the seat warm for Ponting, it would be extraordinary if 'Punter' was to lead, let alone play, for Australia again. He is 36 and with Australia's next Test action not slated until August, away against Sri Lanka, to go back to Ponting would be one step forward and an around the world plane journey back.

There have been doubts over Ponting's captaincy skills for some time - bowling first at Edgbaston in 2005 and twice jettisoning Nathan Hauritz almost certainly cost Australia two Ashes series - but it is his decline with the bat which must also ensure our memories of a great batsman are not tarnished.

Ponting averages only 36.9 over the last 12 months, an alarming dip from a career mark of 53. He has had adequate opportunity to score runs, too when the hype and heat of an Ashes series has not been impacting his concentration. In two Tests against a feeble New Zealand team for example, he managed only 69 runs in three innings.

Granted Clarke's form is not much better. He has 148 runs at 21 although responsibility may focus the mind. It will be interesting to see whether he embraces that responsibility.
Aside from ridding himself of his childish pet name, he must promote himself to bat at No 3.

Usman Khawaja, who is set to become the first Muslim to play for Australia, has been pencilled in for the role. But Clarke must rub that out.

If he does not, he will lay himself open to more criticism that he is only in it for himself. Many in Australia suspect Clarke had been all about the endorsements, celebrity girlfriends and other trappings that come with fame. None more so, perhaps, than Simon Katich who infamously came to blows with Clarke over the singing of the team song in 2009. Clarke had wanted to end the rendition early to meet up with friends and family.

If he leads Australia to victory at the SCG - and what a stunning win it would be to restore pride at 2-2 - then it is likely he will be singing it all night.

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