His private life in turmoil because of his controversy-prone fiancu00e9e's chequered lifestyle, Australian cricketer Michael Clarke's future as captain is under a cloud.
His private life in turmoil because of his controversy-prone fiancu00e9e's chequered lifestyle, Australian cricketer Michael Clarke's future as captain is under a cloud.
Cricket Australia selectors were scheduled yesterday to announce the team for the forthcoming two-Test series in New Zealand but put it off until today to allow chairman Andrew Hilditch to talk to the captain-designate.
Clarke left the team, currently touring New Zealand, to be at the side of his fiancu00e9e who is embroiled in a high-profile brouhaha following publication of her nude photographs in Woman's Day magazine, which she says were taken clandestinely by Brendan Fevola, her former lover and football player, and allegedly circulated by him in the media.
Although Clarke is expected to announce his availability, selectors and former Test cricketers are seriously concerned about his responsibilities as vice-captain and senior batsman.
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More than one worry:u00a0 Michael Clarke |
Former Test captain and SUNDAY MiD-DAY columnist Ian Chappell, never one to mince his words, yesterday expressed concern at Clarke's "stability and durability" as a future Test leader and said his rushing to Bingle's side mid-tour was "not doing him a lot of good."
Chappell told the Sydney Morning Herald: "The first thing you need in an Australian captain is someone who is going to be there all the time.
"In other words, you cannot afford someone who gets injured a bit, like Michael does, or has other issues that occasionally need to be sorted out.
"I understand the situations can come along where things need to be sorted out domestically but if I was a selector, it would be in the back of my mind. I'd be thinking,' Well if we have another candidate the equal to this Michael Clarke, he might be worth looking at. Stability and Durability, to me, are very important factors in an Australian captain. They might not be right at the top of the list but they're right up there'."
Allan Border, another legendary Australian captain said: "If you want to go the long journey in cricket, you either have to have a smooth relationship or be single u2013 anything in between is a nightmare."
Meanwhile, as the Australian team ruthlessly demolished New Zealand by six wickets in Hamilton yesterday, skipper Ricky Ponting said: "He knows from all of us within the team, that he has our support. The last thing I said to him before he left was just to take as much time as he needed."
It remains to be seen if the selectors feel similarly.
