Ashes 2015: With one wild swing, captain Clarke let his team down when it mattered

Michael Clarke has never been shy of talking. He fronts up to the press even on days his team does poorly. He has taken the blame for his poor batting and low returns. He said that in light of his poor form, Australia have essentially been playing with just ten players. He said he needed to contribute to the cause. In the lead up to the crucial do-or-die contest at Trent Bridge, Clarke talked. A lot. About hard work, passion and desire to continue playing for and leading Australia. He said he was one of the hardest workers. He said he has always done the extra stuff, like coming early to nets and staying late. Even as his form tumbled from bad to worse, he said nothing has changed and he still has got the self belief. [caption id=“attachment_2382884” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] ‘What were you thinking, Pup?’ Michael Clarke makes his way back after a poor shot led to his downfall. AFP[/caption] He was defiant. He sounded upbeat. Like his side did at Lord’s when they rebounded from the loss at Cardiff, he said his side would be up and ready for a scrap after the rout at Edgbaston. But then talk has always been cheap. With his side in deep trouble at 29 for 5 after just 6 overs, in the first session of the Test, Clarke swung for the fences. It was the shot of a player who wanted to banish all the talk and all the doubt with one swift, mindless swing of the blade. May be he thought he could score all the runs he has missed out on with that one shot. May be he thought he could pull his side out of the hole with one full-blooded drive. But all it ended up being was a thick edge and his opposite number pouched it. Australia 29/6. A captain under fire expected to lead the recovery and guide his team, just poured more petrol as the flames were roaring up, consuming the establishment. Sure, there is an “Aussie way” of doing things. Sure, you never give up. Sure, you never want to back down. Sure, you always back yourselves to come through. Sure, you always want to play aggressive cricket. But there is a time and place for everything, and 29 for 5 wasn’t it. Clarke bravely said at toss after being inserted to bat that it didn’t matter he had lost the toss. He had indicated that if the Trent Bridge decked looked similar to the one at Edgbaston – which it did – he wouldn’t hesitate to bat first if he won the toss. Be careful of what you wish for, Michael. 18, 47, 14*, 8, 34, 7, 32*, 10, and 3. That’s the sequence of scores that Clarke had behind him as he walked in at number five as early as the 9th ball of the innings. He even said later that it was “as tough a batting condition as any” that he has faced in his career, which begs the question, why go for a wild slash when it would have been prudent to try and wait it out? [caption id=“attachment_2375240” align=“alignright” width=“380”] Michael Clarke. AFP[/caption] There is a counter-attacking innings that Clarke played nearly four years ago on a green top at the Newlands. Dale Steyn was singing. Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel kept up with the chorus and Australia were under the pump but Clarke struck a majestic 151 under difficult circumstances. The difference was that he was in decent nick then having scored a hundred in his previous Test innings. Australia would be humiliated in the second innings of that Test as they were bowled out for 47 (in 18 overs), after being reduced to 21/9 in 11.4 overs. Clarke recalled that innings to say that this collapse was on par if not worse. When asked about the disconnect between all the talk of hard work, preparation and belief off the field and the inept batting display that belied any patience, nous or wherewithal of negotiating lateral movement, Clarke stared deeply before filling the air with cliches and giving credit to Stuart Broad. It wasn’t that Broad was dishing out unplayable jaffas but the Australian batsmen just couldn’t get out of their way. It was a procession of batsmen who played with hard hands and across the line, the complete antithesis to all that was required to handle the swinging ball. The fundamental lessons of playing late, with soft hands and playing the ball right under the eyes were all forgotten. Top-order batsmen and tail-enders alike went looking for the deliveries like blind men groping for the light switch, only ending up giving catching practice to the Englishmen. In the middle of it all was the Australian captain, who despite talking all the talk, when faced with the tough situation decided to be “aggressive” - instead of toughing it out - and paid a heavy price. There is one more innings for Clarke in this Test to prove to the world that he has still got what it takes to cut it at this level. Else, all that he talked about a day ago, would be just that: Talk.