Batsman, occasional spin bowler, captain, motivator, and now selector. has become an all-rounder in more ways than one. And the pressure of juggling these roles could turn him into a jack of all trades and master of none. Clarke, who burst into the international scene with match-winning figures of one for 24 and an unbeaten 39 against England before the 2003 World Cup, was destined to be in a position of power from when he played grade-level cricket. Everyone knew, as did he, that he would one day lead the team. And he deserves to. The man has more than 12,000 runs for Australia, has been his side's batting mainstay for seven years, and has been a natural understudy to Ricky Ponting. When he was made captain this year, there was no surprise. Clarke, however, has hardly been the popular choice of the masses and many of his teammates. He comes across as snobbish, which does not wash well with a majority of the "working class" supporters. His infamous dressing room run-in with Simon Katich at Sydney allegedly led to the opener being denied a contract by Cricket Australia. The question is why he has been given the additional burden of selection. Could there not be a situation of another player being taken off the payrolls because he did not get along with him? What would happen if he himself ceased to become an automatic selection because of the pressure of juggling these roles? Also, does it make sense to expect so much from one man when Australian cricket is at such a critical juncture? After all, he is not Superman. Follow us
