Michael Clarke is in big trouble and the end could be sooner than you think

Michael Clarke is in big trouble and the end could be sooner than you think
2 HOURS AGO AUGUST 01, 2015 10:35PM


Michael Clarke not going anywhere

CAPTAIN Michael Clarke was scathing in his self assessment after Australia’s deplorable performance in the third Ashes Test.
The English critics went even harder at the under-pressure batsman.

The most stinging criticism has come from a source much closer to home with respected ABC cricket commentator Jim Maxwell declaring the Aussie skipper may retire or be tapped on the shoulder at the end of this Ashes series.
While Clarke is desperately out of form, coach Darren Lehmann has already guaranteed the 34-year-old can take as long as he needs to rediscover the form that saw him become the world’s best batsman.
Australia are expected to make changes for the fourth Test at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, beginning Thursday night, however Clarke’s position is safe.

Michael Clarke needs runs.

Maxwell reckons Clarke could fall on his sword and walk away if Australia fails to comeback from the 2-1 series deficit.
It would be such an unfair farewell for a Test hero.
Maxwell said Clarke has lost his confidence.
“Clarke’s future is yet to be determined, but it is far from inconceivable that Steve Smith will be leading the side into their next series in Bangladesh,” Maxwell told the BBC.

“Goodness knows how the 34-year-old is going to get his touch back.
“If you look at his numbers over the past two years, he has scored two hundreds in 28 innings but has not gone past 50 on any other occasion.
“The more desperate he is to succeed, the more he seems to fail.
“His confidence has gone and unless he gets it back in the next two Test matches I would think “his Test career is over.
“It might be a good idea to move him down to number five to get him away from the moving ball, but they will be wary of how it looks for the captain to be taking a step back at this stage in the series.”
Clarke yesterday admitted he is completely out of form and said his poor performance left Australia playing with “10 men”.

The end could be near for Michael Clarke.

England Test greats Nasser Hussain and Geoffrey Boycott have also voiced their suspicions Clarke could be an easy wicket for England in the crucial remaining Tests.
Hussian rated Clarke’s performance in the Edgbaston Test a 2/10.
“What will really concern Clarke is his form and very unlike him to drop a catch. If Australia are going to win the Ashes they need their captain to fire,” Hussain told The Daily Mail.
Boycott said Clarke is in “big trouble”.

“Michael Clarke is the biggest disappointment,” he told The Telegraph. He has been an outstanding batsman at five for Australia. Since he moved to four he has made very few runs.
“Now he has lost his confidence he is sitting on the backfoot expecting the short ball and is not getting right forward when it is pitched up. He is in big trouble.”