Michael Clarke facing axe

JUSTIN Langer last night confirmed his fitness following a rib injury, leaving Michael Clarke in danger of being sacked today.

The national selectors were told yesterday Langer's broken rib had healed enough for him to be named in the side for Friday's third Test against West Indies in Adelaide.

The selectors must drop a batsman from the side which needs 78 for a series victory at Bellerive Oval today and Clarke is the obvious candidate.

He has averaged just 24 since his last Test century a year ago.

Langer's replacement Mike Hussey, a first innings century-maker in Hobart, is experienced at batting down the order in one-day cricket - a major boost to his chances of being retained at No.5, a spot below Brad Hodge.

It is not a formality Clarke will be sacked because there is a feeling among the selection panel he must be cut some slack because of his youth.

But his numbers are poor and he looks like a player in need of a Pura Cup stint to refine his game.

Coach John Buchanan has been impressed with Clarke's recent work ethic and feels the media pressure which has swelled as his form woes continue have heightened the pressure on him.

"Obviously there are a lot of external influences at the moment which you would like to shut out," Buchanan said.


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"(You just have to) be yourself and play your own game. That's not easy when you are under the gaze of international media day in, day out.
"That's the hard part to deal with. He is coping with it the best he can. I think everybody around the team tries to give him as much support as they possibly can."

Several experienced judges have urged Clarke to tighten his game but Buchanan believes he must stay loyal to his natural bravado.

"Whether he is doing well or no it is just a matter of going back to what you do well to make your game work. His game works because he is a very good strokemaker and a very confident you player," Buchanan said.

"OK he only made five but I had the feeling if that ball went either side of that particular fieldsman, who knows what might have happened.

"It takes one shot sometimes to get yourself away.

"He has been preparing exceptionally well. He is doing all the right things off the field. It just hasn't happened on the field at the moment."

Buchanan conceded that Hussey's ability to adapt to different roles in different versions of the game was beyond question.

"We have already seen that. We have seen Michael move from both forms of the game with a relatively seamless transition."

Though Steve Waugh has claimed it could be beneficial for Clarke's career to be dropped, Buchanan would not endorse the suggestion.

"The selectors treat every case on its merits," he said.

"Michael is not Stephen Waugh or Ricky Ponting.

"He is Michael Clarke. Our situation is different to when those situations occurred."
(fox sports)
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seems aussies have some problems finding some future batting star for their middle order for the longterm. Clarke and katich have failed to live up to expectations. symonds, hodge & hussey are likely to be given runs now (the later 2 are in their 30s thou). Looks like aussie selectors are in for a tough time fro once. The expected feasting of cheap runs against a mediorce attack hasnt occured.

Clarke should be persisted with IMO. Hodge and Hussey aren't long term.

Hussey is a fantastic player who can bat anywhere in the order. Clarke was picked on potential and needs to be dropped to make him realise he doesnt have a spot for life.

clarke has problems playing against quick bowlers, it didnt take shoaib long to work him out last year, he struggled in the ashes against freddi, harmison and jones coz theyr all express pace

If they drop Clarke i might have to kill something.

Why is that ?

Why waste young talent like that? They should persist with him. Hussey and Hodge should battle it out for Martyn's position.

I wouldnt be writing Marto off yet, he is the 2nd player after Akash Chopra though to have his career potentially ended by Steve Bucknor.

Hilarious. Quote of the week MODS!

Hodge is a class act! very elegant

If a player like Martyn can be dropped from that side. Screw the rest then.

The selectors are rather stupid to drop Clarke, as hes clearly a class batsman and a player for the future. With so many ageing Aussies in the team, they should be grooming these guys now. What exactly are they waiting for??? When the current crop of players become valid for a free bus pass?? I can see Australia taking a massive drop after half of there squad retires after a couple of years......

Australia arent wasting any talent. clarke is to blame for his own downfall. Hes lucky aussies are so patient any other country wud have dropped him a while ago.. clarkes been give extra games to improve.

its not the end of the world thou many an aussies has come back stronger afta a kick up the jacksie!

Unfairly dropped IMO after just one ordinary series.

thats true .. what they did with martyn was totally unacceptable, just like what they did with steve waugh was.

Clarke has already been given the boot:

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/...1-23212,00.html

"The Allan Border medal winner has made just 516 Test runs at 24.57 since his memorable century in his maiden Test on home soil at the Gabba last year."


With Hussey in great form, I think it is the right decision. Clarke has just 2 fifties from his last 22 innings.

Hussey and Hodge are better players than Clarke/Katich. Though Clarke is better of the latter two.

Exactly. Their selectors have been as bad as any in the past year or two. Just lucky that anyone coming in is quite decent given the strength of their system.

good to see some common sense prevail within the aussie selectors