Who is the only unbeaten captain in T20 internationals? Michael Clarke, of course. His record is 10 wins, a tie and a ‘no result.’ The specialist T20 Oz skipper is now being seen as a kind of Mike Brearley figure.
Clarke said in the Caribbean he would be happy to stay in the shed while his batsmen did the job for Australia.
Even as Australia is proving to be champion material in this event, Clarke’s batting has been quite ordinary, which is exactly why the Brearley comparison is cropping up being made. Of 11 Australians who have scored 200 or more runs in T20 internationals, Clarke has the second-worst average, 22.18, ahead of only wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, (17.85), according to figures published in The Australian, and those runs came at the worst strike rate.
Cricket Australia is, however, completely sold on what Clarke has achieved for them in the T20 arena. They say Clarke is their man for getting the team to fulfil the strange demands of the short game. Ringing endorsements may not mean a maiden title yet but it does seem Australia can challenge India’s exalted position as the only team to have won the ODI World Cup, the Champions Trophy and the T20 world championship.