Michael Clarke A Man of Mystery

Michael Clarke has blown me away with some of the things he has done over the past few months, some things I don't think I will ever get my head around. The sacking of Andrew Symonds was a huge call for the young stand-in captain of Australia in the series against Bangladesh after Symonds missed a team meeting, I started to wonder what was going through the now 28 year old's mind at the time.

Clarke's induction to the permanent position of vice-captaincy changed the way I saw him especially after I went personally to watch the Australians give it their all against the South Africans. The Australians posted 445 in their first innings, with Clarke scoring 138 off 250 deliveries. The South Africans are 5-193 in their first innings reply at a crucial period of the game and Morne Morkel walks out to bat with Mark Boucher. They are greeted by the hungry Australians who induce a few outside edges one of which fell just inches short of second slip, and Michael Clarke suggests to Ricky Ponting to move out second slip and place him in a more defensive position.

Sure you may argue that what does this prove? The Australian's still marched to victory despite losing the series 2-1, however I do sense a slight sense of error in some of Clarke's moves at crucial times. Michael Clarke the man to succeed Ricky Ponting and become the future Australian captain in all forms of the game? Only time will tell, but I believe Clarke still has a lot of improving to do with his captaincy skills.