The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Clarke stepping into Ponting's shoes

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Friday, Oct 29, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Clarke stepping into Ponting's shoes

By S. Dinakar

NOTHING SLIPS BY: A formidable slip cordon, right from the days of the Chappell brothers, has played an important role in the success of Australian teams. - Photo: V.V. Krishnan

NAGPUR, OCT. 28. The other day, the blond and bright-eyed Michael Clarke, stood with a knapsack slung over his shoulders, much like an eager schoolboy on the move, even as he watched that man mountain, Matthew Hayden, after a strenuous practice session, slip into a bit of a slumber on one of the chairs in the quaint pavilion here.

Probably the young Clarke was reminded of the occasion when he drifted into a sort of a cricketing slumber at second slip during the second Test, grassing the simplest of opportunities and reprieving Yuvraj Singh. There is nowhere to hide on the field and Clarke's visage then wore a look of absolute horror.

At the Vidarbha Cricket Association ground, Clarke was alive and alert in the slip cordon, brushing his palms in anticipation as the pacemen began their run-up, then bending his knees and settling down, his eyes on the ball.

And when a chance came his way, he nailed it, moving swiftly to his right and catching the travelling ball when Jason Gillespie forced an error from Ajit Agarkar. Clarke was now an ocean of joy.

"Michael Clarke wants to be Ricky Ponting today," said Australian coach John Buchanan. Clarke has been accorded the pride of place of manning the slot vacated by the injured captain - the second slip.

With a rich legacy in slip catching, Australia has often been able to carve victories out of nowhere, with those magnificent flying men combining wonderfully with the pace merchants. In the Australian Test path dotted with triumphs, the quality of slip catching has played a significant role.

Formidable barriers

The Chappell brothers, Ian and Greg, were formidable barriers in the first and second slips, pouching them aplenty as the snicks flew thick and fast off the menacing Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee; at gully was the redoubtable Ashley Mallet.

Allan Border of astonishing reflexes was the slip catcher of the 80s, and in the 90s, the side possessed an admirable cordon with Mark Taylor, at first slip, the gifted Mark Waugh, second, Shane Warne, third, and Steve Waugh, gully, enhancing the scalp tally of, among others, Craig

McDermott, Merv Hughes, Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie. And when Warne spun them big, Taylor, at slip, would hold some extraordinary catches.

On the third morning of the third Test here, Warne - he snapped up a fine catch to signal curtains for Rahul Dravid off a relentless McGrath on Wednesday - donning a white hat, kept a close watch on Clarke, in the baggy green, from first slip.

He constantly communicated with the lad, gesturing at Clarke to watch out for the away seam movement, and talking to him between deliveries. Already a rather special bond appears to be developing between the two. Perhaps the much heavier Warne sees a bit of himself during his early days in the lighter Clarke, who too is blessed with incredible ability, although in a different aspect of the game, and is hungry for success.

Forgettable time

Like Clarke, Warne had a forgettable time in the slips at the Chidambaram Stadium where the Australian catching standards dropped alarmingly. In Nagpur, there has been a marked improvement, with Warne and Clarke making amends.

One of the theories put forward in this regard is, since the VCA pitch offers more bounce and carry, the ball is reaching the Australians at a better height in the slips. In Chennai, where the edges stayed low, the visitors, who had to go down to pluck the red cherry, could not quite carry out the adjustment.

The natural that he is, Clarke has dazzled with the bat on this tour, undaunted by the reputation or the situation, dancing down to the spinners and creating strokes on both sides of the wicket. He also wants to learn fast in the cordon. Indeed, bristling with exuberance, he often sprinted up to seek guidance from stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist, who himself had conjured a stunner with the big gloves on the second day to dismiss Virender Sehwag.

Then there's Hayden at gully - he is also the lone slipper for the spinners - to seek inspiration from. Hayden certainly does not slip into a slumber on the field of play.

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