Pitch talk much ado about nothing: Clarke

Michael Clarke believes the current protestations about the pitches produced so far in this Ashes series are completely unjustified.

Curators at Cardiff and Lord’s have been criticised for what many have deemed ‘lifeless’ wickets, with England coach Trevor Bayliss even suggesting such decks played into Australia’s hands.

Clarke however, believes a mountain has been made out of the proverbial molehill, and cites the outcomes of each Test as exhibits A and B.

“I’ve never cared too much about the pitches, because I’ve always thought if you’ve got good bowlers you’ll find a way to take 20 wickets,” the Australia skipper told Melbourne’s Triple M.

“It’s funny, Cardiff and Lord’s were both spoken about saying the wicket was too flat, yet we’ve just had two Test matches that have only gone four days each.

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“So if they’re flat, imagine if they made them green tops – they’d be over in two days.

“So I’m not really bothered to be honest. I like seeing cricket played that there’s something in there for everyone: the brand new-ball bowlers get a bit of swing or a bit of seam while the ball is new; as a batsman it’s hard to start but once you get into the game it’s a good wicket to bat on; and then I like to see a bit of spin as the game goes on as well.

“Honestly, I think we’ve seen that in the two Test matches.”

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Clarke insisted that the relative unknown of pitch conditions was simply another facet of Test cricket, and one that should continue at all venues worldwide.

“I’m unsure what they’re going to try and prepare now (for the third Test in Edgbaston), and that’s part of playing international cricket and travelling around the world – of course you’re not going to make the wickets like they are in Australia,” he said.

“England have to have the wickets how they’re comfortable, India have the wickets how they’re comfortable, and we have what we have in Australia.

“A lot of the time I know from my time as captain in Australia, because of the weather and climate and just the conditions in each city or state, you can’t actually do much with the wickets.

“If I go to the curator in Brisbane and say I want it to be a turner like the SCG, he’ll laugh at me – it’s just not possible.”

After relatively scratchy efforts of 38, four and seven in his first three innings in this Ashes series, Clarke was fluent in making an unbeaten 32 as he helped set up Australia’s declaration.

It’s only nine innings since Clarke last posted a Test hundred, but critics have already questioned the form of the 34-year-old.

On the last occasion those same doubts surfaced – when Clarke went 11 innings without a hundred across the 2013-14 summer – the skipper ended any debate with a series-winning 161 not out in Cape Town against then No.1 ranked South Africa.

The right-hander has batted four times in previous Ashes contests in Birmingham, for scores of 40, 30, 29 and 103 not out. 

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