Boria Majumdar
As a player, Michael Clarke was part of one of the strongest Test sides in history, which won in India for the first time in 35 years in 2004. Now a commentator after an illustrious career as player and captain, Clarke spoke exclusively to Boria Majumdar, RevSportz editor-in-chief, about the World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa.
Boria: In your books, are Australia the favorites for the WTC final?
Michael Clarke: I think the Australian team is playing beautiful cricket, the way we dominated India in Australia. And again, I think the conditions play a part as well. The experience the Australian team has, going and playing a one-off Test match in England will be defining. Our pace attack – [Josh] Hazelwood, [Mitchell] Starc, [Pat] Cummins – have all been playing cricket. I know it’s T20 cricket, but their bodies are still moving, they are still bowling. I would like to think the experience of our batting line-up will shine through in a one-off Test match against a very good South African team who I do not think get enough credit and respect for what they have achieved in the past months. They deserve to be their playing against Australia. And if they play their best, you just never know. But I think, yes, Australia is the favourite for me.
Boria: Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazelwood, Scott Boland…all four coming together, is it massive for Australia?
Clarke: I think Nathan Lyon will play. And then you have got the use of our batters and allrounders, if needed to bowl as well. Unfortunately for Scottie Boland, who has been absolutely brilliant.
Boria: How does one drop him (Boland)?
Clarke: Yes, it is unbelievable. It is so hard. He has been phenomenal.
But I think if Starc, Hazelwood and Cummins are fit, then they are still the best three. Unfortunately for Scottie, he is probably our fourth best. So yeah, but it is hard to leave him out. Nathan Lyon has been around for a long time and loves bowling in England. I think it is a brilliant attack overall.
Boria: Steve Smith once again, the X-factor?
Clarke: Stevie will make runs. I think the only challenge Australia has, is our top 3, who bats where. Who is going to open the batting with Usman Khawaja? To me, if Australia are planning to play Marnus Labuschagne this Test match, then I think he stays at No. 3 and you must bring someone to open, which will most likely be Cameron Green. I think they will pick Cameron Green over Sam Konstas.
If they think this is going to be Marnus’s last Test match, then I think they will bat Cameron Green at No. 3 for the future. And I think they will bat Marnus at No. 1 and will open with Usman Khawaja. Now, if he makes no runs, then they would bring Sam Konstas in straight after this Test match. I am a little confused about what is happening with the Sam Konstas thing. I do not understand why he did not play in Sri Lanka.
And then, if he is the right guy to open the batting, then let him open the batting. The whole “picking the perfect time to bring someone in” does not exist. He could have made 100 in Sri Lanka. You know, if he is good enough, put him in. I think they got into a tough spot with Cameron Green being fit again, and he is a wonderful player.
Boria: Cameron Green is a massive addition to that Australian line-up. Your thoughts?
Clarke: Yeah, I think he is just batting at the moment. But if he is batting and bowling, which he will be in time, that would be ‘wow’. He is a brilliant fielder as well. [Beau] Webster as well. His bowling has been brilliant. He has made some handy runs. I think he is a brilliant No. 6. So even moving forward, for this Australian team, three fast bowlers, Nathan Lyon, two genuine allrounders in your eleven. Travis Head’s bowling is underrated, and I think he can bowl as a part-time off-spinner as well. And then, if they get Marnus to bowl some leggies, I think then they have got a very well-balanced team. It’s just who opens the batting in this Test match which is going to be very interesting.
Boria: Last question. What do you think of South Africa, and the [Kagiso] Rabada factor? Because he would want to win a WTC or something major for SA.
Clarke: I think they should be very proud. The fact that they are in this World Test Championship [final] shows how they have been successful in the last 12 months. They have got nothing to lose in my opinion. I think South Africa need to play fearless, aggressive cricket against Australia, if they want to beat them. They have got a good enough attack and they just need to utilise this chance and play their best cricket to take on Australia if they want to win.
Boria: Michael Clarke, always a pleasure and absolute joy talking to you.
Clarke: That is very kind. Thanks for having me, Boria.
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