Ashes 2015: Michael Clarke's batting 'all over the shop' says Peter Hayter
Australia skipper could quit after England series, says Etheridge
Monday 3 August 2015 10:18, UK
Michael Clarke is “all over the shop” with his batting and will find it hard to turn Australia’s Ashes troubles around.
That’s the view of The Cricket Paper’s Peter Hayter after the Baggy Greens sunk to an eight-wicket loss inside three days at Edgbaston to fall 2-1 down in their series with England.
Australia skipper Clarke posted scores of just 10 and three in Birmingham – snared both times by a rampant Steve Finn – and has procured just 94 runs in six Ashes innings so far this summer.
"Technically, he looks all over the shop – he is tentative, his feet are struck in the crease like chewing gum and he is going back to the short ball."
“Clarke says he’s working hard but he doesn’t look to me like a bloke who thinks he’s got the answers,” Hayter said during Sunday’s edition of Cricket Writers on TV.
“Technically, he looks all over the shop – he is tentative, his feet are struck in the crease like chewing gum and he is going back to the short ball.
“He also seems under pressure with every move, every selection decision, every field placing and every innings – the spotlight is really on him.
“If he emerges from this with two fantastic Test matches that is testament to his talent and determination, but it is going to be tough.”
John Etheridge, meanwhile, reckons there are cracks in the partnership between Clarke and Australia coach Darren Lehmann, citing the latter’s decision to omit Brad Haddin from the fourth Test as evidence.
And the Sun writer says he would not be shocked if Clarke – whose tally of 28 Test tons for Australia has only been bettered by Ricky Ponting (41), Steve Waugh (32), Matthew Hayden (30) and Don Bradman (29) – called time on his international career after The Ashes.
"It would surprise no-one if he stepped down as a captain and possibly a player at the end of the series."
“Clarke has proven himself to be a good captain – he and New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum have been credited with almost inventing funky captaincy – but there do seem to be problems in the Australia camp,” said Etheridge.
“The relationship between Clarke and Lehman is, I would say, not the smoothest and the decision to leave out Haddin – something many of the Australia journalists and ex-players, such as Ponting, Shane Warne and Ian Healy have said was wrong – has caused ructions.
“It would surprise no-one if he stepped down as a captain and possibly a player at the end of the series.”
Clarke notched his 28th century against India in Adelaide last December but had to retire with a back injury during that knock, while a hamstring issue he picked up later in the Test led to an extended period on the sidelines.
The 34-year-old’s top score in Test cricket since is the 47 he carded against West Indies in June and All Out Cricket’s Phil Walker thinks Clarke may still not be at his best physically.
“A year and a half ago he was the best batsman in the world and the notion that he couldn’t play the short ball was shattered when he took Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn apart,” said Walker.
“He has made Ashes hundreds over here and is clearly a proven player in all conditions, so the issue for me is to what extent his body will allow him to play the way his mind wants him to.”
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