The difference between the captaincies of Michael Clarke and Alastair Cook could not have been better illustrated than the manner in which they approached their tasks on day three
Michael Clarke has out-thought and out-batted Alastair Cook in nearly every session of this series, aided by England's skittish batting and sustained by bowlers who, almost without fail, have responded to his vigorous and confident captaincy.
But there is something deeper at work than mere numbers and results in a battle between generals both playing in their 101st Test match with averages so close it hardly matters. It goes to the core of their cricketing education, how they play the game and what impact their opposing philosophies have had on the second leg of this Ashes marathon.
Cook sometimes gives the impression of leading like the choirboy he once was, perhaps frightened of hitting the wrong note; Clarke, reared in the harsh light and heat of Sydney's western suburbs, an unforgiving environment in every way, knows it is not a sin to gamble. Indeed, risk-taking is almost an Australian birthright.
This, though, is complicated picture. There is nothing soft about Cook. He has just passed 8,000 Test runs (the youngest to do so) and should join Kevin Pietersen in eclipsing Geoffrey Boycott's aggregate of 8,114 before the end of the tour, although that is no banker. He embraces the responsibility of opening the batting and never shirks a challenge. And, if you were to ask a disinterested party which of Cook and Clarke knew more about sheep, chances are they would not choose the Englishman, who spends each spring lambing on his father-in-law's farm in Bedfordshire.
All that said, Cook on this tour has been gripped by tentativeness – admittedly not all of his own making – while Clarke, from the moment he cheekily announced the opposition's line-up in Brisbane (then crassly threatened to have his bowlers break James Anderson's arm), until the morning of this Boxing Day Test, has played and captained without fear.
In the six years after the brain-freeze decision by Ricky Ponting to insert at Edgbaston in 2005 – even though Glenn McGrath had rolled his ankle in the warm-up and was out of the Test – Australia always opted to bat first when given the choice.
Since 2011, Clarke, although reared on the virtues of batting first in a four-innings match, has sent the opposition in four times, winning twice and losing once, with his current gamble in the balance.
"I can't believe I'm doing this," he said with mock incredulity when he won the toss here, knowing he had the luxury of leading 3-0 in the series (having chosen to bat first each time) and the opportunity to screw England to the floorboards. From that call onwards, Clarke put himself under pressure to deliver on his judgment.
The difference in their captaincy could not have been better illustrated than the manner in which they approached their tasks on day three.
England led by 91 at the start of play, and Brad Haddin had only Nathan Lyon for company, with Australia looking more vulnerable than at any time in the series, yet, through diffidence or lack of vision, Cook chose caution over aggression in engineering a stuttering conclusion to the job his bowlers had started with such purpose and discipline on the previous afternoon.
The sight of his strike bowler, Anderson, bowling to a single slip left that most direct and uncomplicated of former Australian captains, Ian Chappell, among many, gobsmacked. By the time Cook had plugged a gap at third slip, a chance had already fizzed through the empty space to an untended third man boundary. The moment had gone.
But just as puzzling as the early absence of supporting catchers to the immediate right of Jonny Bairstow was the way Anderson, Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad could not find a consistently full length. The discipline had evaporated. There was anxiety and impatience in their work, and gathering apprehension about the ability of their adversaries to recover.
So, Australia cut the deficit to 51, then set about restoring equilibrium.
They were were grateful for the compliance of Michael Carberry, a 33-year-old newcomer who batted as if still auditioning for his place. Once Peter Siddle had shifted him to rescue the crowd from slumber in the heat, the foundations crumbled alarmingly, each dismissal hinting at another.
Mitchell Johnson hummed with the menace of a dive bomber, supported by attacking fields, trapping Cook on the crease and running out Joe Root.
This was aggressive, super-charged cricket. There was no hint of indecision. It was controlled and well-marshalled – and it was achieved without the crocked Shane Watson, and Ryan Harris having to bowl through recurring pain in his knee. England, having held high hopes of victory, were now in a proper sweat trying to husband their lead and Australia were roaring at full volume.
Clarke, twitching like a bird at second slip, struggling to calm his nervous energy but in full command of his attack, had pulled off a coup in the gloaming of an eventful day: he had turned an unpromising situation into one of dominance.
England's depressingly familiar collapse handed the gauntlet back to Cook and, defending 230, he began with four slips and a gully, quickly reduced to three. But, like a lot of England's gestures in this series, it was all a little bit late.
How different it was here two years ago. Cook, in the form of his life, led England to an unbeatable series lead in the injured Ponting's last match as captain, with Harris also injured and out of the attack. Clarke took over from Ponting for the fifth Test in Sydney, where he was booed to the wicket by a small but loud number of his own supporters. This time, cheers for Clarke filled every corner of the MCG, and, whatever the result, he will be similarly hailed on his home ground next week, and rightly so. Reported by guardian.co.uk 13 hours ago.
Michael Clarke has out-thought and out-batted Alastair Cook in nearly every session of this series, aided by England's skittish batting and sustained by bowlers who, almost without fail, have responded to his vigorous and confident captaincy.
But there is something deeper at work than mere numbers and results in a battle between generals both playing in their 101st Test match with averages so close it hardly matters. It goes to the core of their cricketing education, how they play the game and what impact their opposing philosophies have had on the second leg of this Ashes marathon.
Cook sometimes gives the impression of leading like the choirboy he once was, perhaps frightened of hitting the wrong note; Clarke, reared in the harsh light and heat of Sydney's western suburbs, an unforgiving environment in every way, knows it is not a sin to gamble. Indeed, risk-taking is almost an Australian birthright.
This, though, is complicated picture. There is nothing soft about Cook. He has just passed 8,000 Test runs (the youngest to do so) and should join Kevin Pietersen in eclipsing Geoffrey Boycott's aggregate of 8,114 before the end of the tour, although that is no banker. He embraces the responsibility of opening the batting and never shirks a challenge. And, if you were to ask a disinterested party which of Cook and Clarke knew more about sheep, chances are they would not choose the Englishman, who spends each spring lambing on his father-in-law's farm in Bedfordshire.
All that said, Cook on this tour has been gripped by tentativeness – admittedly not all of his own making – while Clarke, from the moment he cheekily announced the opposition's line-up in Brisbane (then crassly threatened to have his bowlers break James Anderson's arm), until the morning of this Boxing Day Test, has played and captained without fear.
In the six years after the brain-freeze decision by Ricky Ponting to insert at Edgbaston in 2005 – even though Glenn McGrath had rolled his ankle in the warm-up and was out of the Test – Australia always opted to bat first when given the choice.
Since 2011, Clarke, although reared on the virtues of batting first in a four-innings match, has sent the opposition in four times, winning twice and losing once, with his current gamble in the balance.
"I can't believe I'm doing this," he said with mock incredulity when he won the toss here, knowing he had the luxury of leading 3-0 in the series (having chosen to bat first each time) and the opportunity to screw England to the floorboards. From that call onwards, Clarke put himself under pressure to deliver on his judgment.
The difference in their captaincy could not have been better illustrated than the manner in which they approached their tasks on day three.
England led by 91 at the start of play, and Brad Haddin had only Nathan Lyon for company, with Australia looking more vulnerable than at any time in the series, yet, through diffidence or lack of vision, Cook chose caution over aggression in engineering a stuttering conclusion to the job his bowlers had started with such purpose and discipline on the previous afternoon.
The sight of his strike bowler, Anderson, bowling to a single slip left that most direct and uncomplicated of former Australian captains, Ian Chappell, among many, gobsmacked. By the time Cook had plugged a gap at third slip, a chance had already fizzed through the empty space to an untended third man boundary. The moment had gone.
But just as puzzling as the early absence of supporting catchers to the immediate right of Jonny Bairstow was the way Anderson, Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad could not find a consistently full length. The discipline had evaporated. There was anxiety and impatience in their work, and gathering apprehension about the ability of their adversaries to recover.
So, Australia cut the deficit to 51, then set about restoring equilibrium.
They were were grateful for the compliance of Michael Carberry, a 33-year-old newcomer who batted as if still auditioning for his place. Once Peter Siddle had shifted him to rescue the crowd from slumber in the heat, the foundations crumbled alarmingly, each dismissal hinting at another.
Mitchell Johnson hummed with the menace of a dive bomber, supported by attacking fields, trapping Cook on the crease and running out Joe Root.
This was aggressive, super-charged cricket. There was no hint of indecision. It was controlled and well-marshalled – and it was achieved without the crocked Shane Watson, and Ryan Harris having to bowl through recurring pain in his knee. England, having held high hopes of victory, were now in a proper sweat trying to husband their lead and Australia were roaring at full volume.
Clarke, twitching like a bird at second slip, struggling to calm his nervous energy but in full command of his attack, had pulled off a coup in the gloaming of an eventful day: he had turned an unpromising situation into one of dominance.
England's depressingly familiar collapse handed the gauntlet back to Cook and, defending 230, he began with four slips and a gully, quickly reduced to three. But, like a lot of England's gestures in this series, it was all a little bit late.
How different it was here two years ago. Cook, in the form of his life, led England to an unbeatable series lead in the injured Ponting's last match as captain, with Harris also injured and out of the attack. Clarke took over from Ponting for the fifth Test in Sydney, where he was booed to the wicket by a small but loud number of his own supporters. This time, cheers for Clarke filled every corner of the MCG, and, whatever the result, he will be similarly hailed on his home ground next week, and rightly so. Reported by guardian.co.uk 13 hours ago.