Michael Clarke has no intention of stepping down as captain and handing the reins to Steve Smith despite the heir apparent’s tremendous success at the helm this summer.
Clarke wants to remain captain until the end of his career and if he achieves his goal of playing until the 2019 World Cup it could have ramifications for Smith’s future as skipper.
There is a school of thought, aired by former great Ian Chappell last month in Brisbane, that Smith should retain the Test captaincy even if Clarke returns from injury. The thinking being Australia cannot afford to be chopping and changing such an important post, which would happen if Clarke returned as skipper but remained dogged by his hamstring woes.
Chappell’s proviso was that Smith had to make a smooth transition to the captaincy, which he undoubtedly has. Smith hit centuries in each of his three Tests as captain in his stellar series against India then followed with a match-winning ton on debut as ODI skipper in Hobart. He also won admirers with the way he handled criticism of his defensive declaration in Melbourne, proving he was prepared to lead in his own way, even while deputising for Clarke.
Clarke acknowledged Smith had done “very well” as captain this summer but has no plans of abdicating the throne for the younger player. “As long as the selectors think I’m the right man for the job,” Clarke, who is an ambassador to the MILO/Cricket Australia junior programs, said when asked if he would like to remain captain for the rest of his career.
“I think I’ve earned that respect, I think I’ve played some really good cricket and from the information I have the selectors are really happy with my performances – personally and also with my captaincy. I’ve heard no different at this stage.”
Clarke’s relationship with selectors has been strained by a number of disagreements last year, most notably in November over the plan for his return from injury. There could be another flashpoint next month if Clarke cannot prove his fitness for the World Cup but the injured captain was encouraged by his recovery from hamstring surgery.
“Things are going really well. I’ve rehabbed every day, plenty of training, I’m still ahead of schedule,” Clarke said. “Trying to get fit as soon as I possibly can with the realistic view of February 21 being the date I can be back on the park playing for Australia again.”
As determined as Clarke is to prove his doubters wrong, Clarke said he would not play if not right. “I won’t do that to my teammates, I won’t let them down. If I’m fit I’d love to be on the park, if I’m not I won’t do that to my team,” Clarke said.
The Australian one-day side has become accustomed to playing without Clarke. Since taking over from Ricky Ponting as full-time captain immediately after the 2011 World Cup, Clarke has played 43 of a possible 81 games, and 17 of 45 since the start of 2013. Clarke believes he still has “a lot to give” in both the Test and ODI arenas.
“I think it’d be a different conversation if I’m 37 or 38 but I’m as fit and as healthy as I’ve been,” Clarke said.
“I don’t carry much weight, fitness has always been a big part of my life. The goal is to get back to being 100 per cent fit and getting back on that park and playing Test and one-day cricket for Australia.”
Clarke was at the SCG on Sunday giving tips to kids as part of the MILO Valuable Player program, which is aimed at children aged five to 12 who display values of good sportsmanship and fair play. Clarke said it was important to play cricket in the right spirit but said there was room for banter between players.
“The main and most important message for young boys and girls is there is a line you shouldn’t overstep and that’s what we try to work on every single day as an Australian team, to play hard but respect the rules of the game and understand there is a line and we shouldn’t be crossing it,” Clarke said.
