England’s Test fortunes have nose-dived but if Australian captain Michael Clarke was tempted to stick the boot in and have a dig about how both sides were shaping up for next year’s Ashes series, he certainly didn’t show it.
England have lost their No.1 Test ranking, skipper Andrew Strauss has retired and the controversial career of Kevin Pietersen has hit another hurdle after he was sacked from the team for disloyalty.
Clarke had nothing but praise for 35-year-old Strauss on Thursday, as a player, as a captain and as a man.
Asked if the age of 35 was burn-out time for a Test captain, the 31-year-old Clarke joked: “What about 31?”
Clarke’s early days as Test captain have been sunny ones, highlighted by a 4-0 sweep of India last summer.
His big challenges will come soon, with a home series against South Africa in November, a Test tour of India and an Ashes tour.
But for now, Clarke is happy to look back on the contribution of Ashes-winning skipper Strauss to the game.
“Andrew has been a fantastic player for a long period for England,” Clarke said on Thursday in Abu Dhabi.
“A hundred Test matches. There’s not too many people in the world who are lucky enough or good enough to do that.
“He’s got a very good record as an opening batsman and he deserves a lot of credit for taking England back to being the No.1 Test team in the world (England have slipped to second after a series loss to South Africa).
“I wish him all the best for the future, as I know all the Australian players do who have played against him.
“I’ve always got on well with Andrew. He’s a lovely guy.”
South African-born Strauss, who spent some of his school days at Melbourne’s Caulfield Grammar, averaged a healthy 40.91 in 100 Tests. Not bad for an opener, as Clarke says.
However, in three of Strauss’ past four series, he averaged under 30, including 107 runs at 17.83 in the recent home series against South Africa.
“I’d run my race,” Strauss told a media conference at Lord’s.
“From a captaincy point of view, it’s important you’re not a passenger, and people aren’t speculating on your future.
“I know from my own energy levels and motivation, I wasn’t going to improve batting-wise.”