Its Only Cricket

3rd Test: Australia wins Sydney Test (scorecard), South Africa won Test Series 2-1.. T20 & ODI series follows.
Current Cricket Series : South Africa vs Australia, West Indies vs New Zealand. Coming Up : India in NZ 2009.

Filed under Player Profile - Australia

Some time ago, I read somewhere about Australians doing researches on how to spot fast bowling breed at a very early age and how to groom it!

Can't confirm that news 100%, but assure you Australians do think lot far ahead about their cricket than any other cricketing nation. One of the example is/was making Steve Waugh the vice-captain once Mark Taylor was leading wonderfully, and then Ricky Ponting was confirmed of captainship even before he had "fully" proved himself at International level.

Aussie selectors "seem to know" which player has got how much capability, and even though they will give the "stand-in" vice-captainship to their wicket-keepers (Ian Healy and Adam Gilchrist), they will always tell the next promising youngster that - YOU ARE THE NEXT CAPTAIN.. now start acting and performing like that!!

If everything goes well, next is Micheal Clarke.

Question you might ask, is - what's so special in Michael Clarke? Well, apart from good looks (famous list of Girl friends) and helmet allergy, New South Wales/Australia top order batsman can bat on any surface, quick on his feet & is a brilliant fielder. Not many Aussies come to International cricket at such an early age (Clarke was 21 years and 9 months on debut, 151 runs), and in addition to bowling his left-arm spinners, Michael Clarke also serves the job is taunting opposition batsmen.

You may not hear it on television, but Clarke fielding at backward point is more than just a brilliant fielder for any opposition batsmen. Now with Shane Warne retired, Clarke will be taking the extended load of entertaining the opposition batsmen.

Full name : Michael John Clarke
Born on : 2 April, 1981, Liverpool, New South Wales
Nick Name : Pup, Clarkey
Height = 5ft 11inch
Cap No. = 389 (Tests), 149 (ODIs)
International cricket career statistics
Identity	ODI Career	Test Career	T-20 career
Matches	122	29	12
Runs	3606	1728	110
HS	130	151	37
Avg	44.51	46.7	15.71
100's	3	5	0
50's	26	6	0
Catches	45	23	5
Wickets	35	8	4
5W's	1	1	0
10W's	0	0	0

Quotes/Trivia/Interviews/Articles
**When he was 8 years old - "I wanted to be 9" says Michael Clarke. Ask him his worst habit - "too many too list" he replies. and the food he can made - "Stir Fry".
**30th sept, 2007 - "Clarke Special conflicts rain's rate with Chinnaswamy!" **Also known as "Clarkey" in Twenty20 games, Michael Clarke has dated Australian Model Lara Bingle, before breakup with certain Erina-Lea Connelly whom he dated 8 years!
**This forum should find you more information on Australian cricketer Michael Clarke.
**Non Spoting Hero = Ricky Stuart, a former Australian rugby union player and now coach of Australian Rugby team (also from New South Wales state), who won the Dally M Madel for Player of the year in 1993.

Shaun Tait : challenging the speed gun!

Michael Hussey : Opener turned lower order crisis man

Micheal Clarke : Aussie cricket's wonder boy!

Brad Hogg : Can't keep my tougue inside!

Brad Haddin : as good as Healy or Gilly?

A tribute to best cricket wicket keeper, ever!