‘After a shaky start, the year might yet end well for Clarke’, says Roebuck

SYDNEY - Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke’s performance in the Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Victorian Bushrangers suggests that he has put the recent disturbances behind him, noted cricket commentator Peter Roebuck has said.

Clarke made an unbeaten 71 in NSW’s 5-171 against a high-class attack led by Test hopeful Peter Siddle.

“Clarke was in fertile form. Here his footwork was deft and his bat looked wide without ever resembling a railway sleeper. Stepping down the pitch to loft the spinners, and leaning back to pull the speedsters, he unfurled an impressive range of strokes,” Roebuck wrote in his syndicated column for the Sydney Morning Herald.

“After a shaky start, the year might yet end well for him. Hereafter the selectors might consider leaving the vice-captaincy empty or else occupied by a colleague from the same generation. It’s a position of responsibility without power,” he added.

Roebuck also believes that Clarke might have struggled because of his elevation as a No.4 batsman.

“Clarke is a purposeful batsman. Pushing him up to No.4 in the Test order was sensible, but so far the list has not quite settled down, mostly because the incumbent No.5 and No.6 are a bit similar. Still, Clarke looks ready for the forthcoming challenge,” Roebuck said. (ANI)