Australia lose final link to golden era

Michael Clarke’s farewell Test at The Oval in less than a fortnight represents not only the final step of a long and celebrated cricket journey, it also severs the final link to a golden era that has both lifted national spirits but also unrealistically raised many an expectation.

Clarke came into Test cricket alongside some of the greatest names Australian cricket has known – Ponting, Warne, McGrath, Gilchrist, Hayden, Langer, Lee and Gillespie.

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Clarke (top right) and the legendary Australians of the early 2000s // Getty

He leaves behind a team likely to be drastically reshaped in the wake of Australia’s fourth failed Ashes sojourn in a decade, and almost certainly in the hands of the second-youngest captain to be formally appointed to the role in 135 years.

While the appointment of Steve Smith as Clarke’s permanent successor won’t be official until his name is recommended by the national selection panel and endorsed by the Cricket Australia Board - CA boss James Sutherland said on Sunday that Smith was "clearly the heir apparent" - it is viewed as a procedural formality mainly because of the cloud that hovers over other potential candidates.

Quick Single: Tributes flow following Clarke's retirement

Smith’s predecessor as vice-captain, Brad Haddin, would seemingly be a long shot to return to Test cricket having already announced his retirement from the one-day format and – at age 37 – lost his place in the Test team to 29-year-old Peter Nevill after withdrawing from the second Ashes Test for family reasons.

Before Haddin returned to the vice-captaincy in 2013 it was the domain of 34-year-old allrounder Shane Watson, who also stood in as captain for one Test in India when Clarke was absent through injury.

But like the veteran 'keeper, Watson looks to have been replaced by a younger model with Mitchell Marsh not just groomed for the position but already a handful of Test matches into his apprenticeship.

High praise for Michael Clarke from two former teammates

Opener Chris Rogers, who has significant captaincy experience with English county team Middlesex, has foreshadowed his retirement from Test cricket at the end of this Ashes series even though he enters the final Test as his team’s foremost run scorer.

And as for the remaining senior players likely to survive further culling of the squad as blame for the Ashes capitulation is apportioned, neither fast bowler Mitchell Johnson nor opener David Warner have any meaningful leadership experience or received any indication they are in the frame for captaincy.

Indeed, Sutherland on Sunday responded to a question about Warner's possible elevation to the vice-captaincy by saying: "I don't think that's necessarily as obvious a next step" before repeating that the decision will be finalised by the CA board after a recommendation from the selectors.

Quick Single: Australia surrender the urn in Nottingham

In his post-match comments after the glare of another sub-standard team performance was deflected by his surprise retirement announcement, Clarke was careful not to be seen as pre-empting any official decision to install Smith as his replacement.

But the heir apparent, who led Australia to a series win against India last summer in Clarke’s enforced absence, received warm endorsement from his former NSW and Sydney Sixers coach Trevor Bayliss who was today celebrating his first triumph with England just six weeks into his new job.

Watch: The moment England regained the Ashes

Bayliss described Smith as a pro-active leader who in addition to being an outstanding player held the respect of his teammates – a trait that he likened to England’s Ashes-winning skipper Alastair Cook.

And he added that Smith will handle the responsibility well, but will also bring a touch of bravado to the job given he’s "a bit of a game player".

Clarke will captain Australia at The Oval, but the new skipper’s first Test assignment will be a tricky two-Test visit to Bangladesh on pitches that have traditionally troubled Australians even more than the English seamers that have so exposed them over the past five weeks.

And against an opponent that is no longer the easybeat Australia encountered – and very nearly lost the opening Test to – when they made their only previous visit there in 2006.

Quick Single: Australia's brief history with Bangladesh

"I think Smithy is ready (but) that will be decided by the selectors," Clarke said.

"Smithy had the opportunity through the Australian summer (when Clarke underwent hamstring surgery) and showed that he’s going to make a good captain.

"Only time will tell, but I’ve certainly got faith in him, I believe in him and the Australian team."

Clarke reflects on his career and Australia's Ashes defeat

Just what that team will look like remains one of the great unknowns in the wake of an Ashes campaign that started unimpressively, burst brilliantly and briefly into life at Lord’s only to splutter into darkness over a gloomy couple of weeks at Birmingham and Nottingham.

In addition to the old stagers mentioned above, Ryan Harris has gone from the original 17-man touring party due to his ongoing chronic knee problems, and there are doubts lingering over the Test futures of batsmen Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh.

It’s that sort of speculation about the tenure of two mature (Voges is 35, Marsh 32) but comparatively inexperienced cricketers (Voges has played six Tests, Marsh 15) that Clarke believes is one of the issues that must be addressed in the Ashes aftermath.

"I think we have a lot of talent, whether it be in this (current) change room or in the Australian system coming through," Clarke said when asked to gauge the shape of Australia's international cricket scene that he is about to depart.

"I think we need to be patient, especially if we lose a few guys in one go.

England wrap up the Ashes at Trent Bridge

"We saw that a few years ago when a lot of the greats walked away from the Australian team, it’s going to take some time. 

"It’s going to take some hard work and from the media in particular to keep the faith. 

"I think that’s really important (that we) give players a good opportunity, not write them off when we see one or two bad performances. 

"Believe in them, and stick with them especially through the tough times. 

"That’s one thing I’d love to see improve especially in the Australian media. 

"You watch and see how hard they work those young players, and I’d love to see us get behind them rather than write them off."

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