Michael Clarke retains the belief he is a good enough batsman for international cricket and goes into Thursday’s fourth Test at Trent Bridge convinced his hard work will be converted into runs.
The Australia captain’s barren spell this series came into sharp focus after his side’s eight-wicket defeat against England at Edgbaston, where he admitted that with only 94 to show from his six innings, he was yet to “get off the plane” and that his team were playing with 10 men.
While his close ally Shane Warne, the former Australia leg-spinner, suggested Clarke should use the time in between Tests to take a break, the 34-year-old has instead opted to continue grafting and in the practice days this week he has arrived early for additional time in the nets.
Clarke has been bristling at suggestions in Australia that his desire to continue in Test cricket is on the wane and used his newspaper column to outline his plan to play on beyond this Ashes series. Speaking before the fourth Test, where defeat for his side would result in the urn changing hands, he continued this defiant stance.
“The self-belief is still there because I’m putting in the work,” Clarke said. “I’m confident I’m a good enough player and I’ve prepared well enough to walk out and make runs in this game. If I didn’t have the love I have for the game, if I didn’t have the will to want to be the best I can possibly be and help this team have success, I wouldn’t be sitting here today.”
Asked about the scrutiny surrounding his batting, Clarke pointed to previous lulls in an 11-year international career that places him fifth in Australia’s Test scoring charts, with 8,605 runs, needing only 21 more to pass Matthew Hayden in fourth place.
“I’ve had this a number of times throughout my career. It’s not new to me,” he said. “That’s what playing sport at the highest level is about – it’s the rollercoaster ride, the highs and lows, being able to pick yourself up when things don’t go to plan and find a way to get through that.
“I said that a lot through the period when I had a lot of success as well – enjoy that wave because it doesn’t last for ever. There’s two sides to this game but I’ve still got that love, desire and passion – and I’m still trying to become better. Hence why I’m here to train today.”
Clarke was quick to remind those present of the work put in to be fit for Australia’s World Cup campaign at the start of the year, where he returned from a hamstring injury three matches into the tournament to lead his county to their fifth title. He top-scored for Australia in the seven-wicket success against New Zealand in the final.
“Getting out of bed to get better hasn’t become tougher at all,” he said. “I think, when that becomes too hard, it’s time for me to walk away; there’s no doubt about it.
“I proved to a lot of people at the World Cup – after just about everyone said I wouldn’t get back for that, I wouldn’t be fit – that I was willing to do the work. There’s no doubt I’m coming to the back end of my career. I’m 34 years of age. It’s certainly the back half.
“But If you know me and you have the luxury to see how hard I train, I think if I didn’t want to be here, I wouldn’t be doing the work I am doing.”
