Cricket: Boy wonder keeps hype at arm's length

Possibly the most impressive part of Michael Clarke's batting, apart from his hooking and straight driving, is the way the young Australian thinks about the game.

Fresh from his imperious 141 at Brisbane, the 23-year-old right-hander is the most exciting addition to the Australian side for many a summer, and is expected to pose another huge challenge for New Zealand when the second test starts today.

Clarke's mercurial success over the past few months, including an innings of 151 on debut against India at Bangalore, has promoted him to boy-wonder status in Australia, and it would be no surprise if he continued on to genuine greatness.

For all that, the stroke-laden apprentice from Sydney's Western Suburbs seems to have a knack of keeping his feet on the ground, and is in no mood to entertain thoughts of another walkover against New Zealand, at the Adelaide Oval.

"The Kiwis are always tough," he said. "I think in any sport they are a fighting nation.

"They always come out scrapping and trying their best so it is going to be hard work. We definitely won't be taking them lightly."

It's probably no surprise that Clarke has managed to keep his outstanding summer in perspective, given that he comes from a dyed-in-the-wool cricket family who tend to call a stump a stump, if his press interviews are any guide.

Asked after his man-of-the-match award at the Gabba how his father might be reacting, Clarke said without a blink of an eye, "getting pissed probably" - the sort of comment that would never pass muster with New Zealand Cricket's publicity arm.

But it's easier to speak your mind when you front up with a test average of 67.82, having become the only Australian after Harry Graham and Kepler Wessels to have posted centuries on debut both home and away.

And it wasn't just the fact that he scored so heavily at Bangalore and Brisbane that astonished; it was the way he approached his batting, driving and pulling whenever the length was awry, and playing as if he was still with his mates in the backyard.

There is a bit of a swagger about the young dasher, but it seems to be nicely balanced against a good cricketing brain, and a realisation that hard work and a good attitude are essential in a game of such fickle fortune.

"We'll see how we go in the second test but hopefully we can continue playing like we have been," said Clarke.

"I feel pretty good, like all my practice is working out there, so hopefully if I keep training hard the results will continue to come.

"I like Adelaide as a place. It's certainly a great ground."

Nicknamed "Pup", Clarke made his one-day international debut against England at Adelaide in January 2003, when he scored an unbeaten 39, took a wicket with his left-arm spin and claimed a run-out.

He is a former captain of Australia's under-19s, leading the side to the Youth World Cup title at Sri Lanka in 2000, and made his first-class debut for New South Wales against the touring Indian side in 1999-2000.

The only genuine rut he has recently experienced was with English county side Hampshire, where Clarke played last winter alongside Australian team-mate Shane Warne.

But even then he pulled himself clear of the trough, smashed a few centuries and ended the season with 709 runs at 35.45.

"I think I had about eight games where I didn't score more than 50 runs," he said.

"It was great to go through the rough patch but then come out on top of it and score three hundreds in a row."

As for the Adelaide test, he said he wasn't expecting to be required to bowl his left-arm spin, as Warne was impressive in Brisbane and the remainder of the attack had also performed strongly.

"The way Warnie was just bowling in the nets, I'd say probably not," said Clarke, after being asked if he rated himself a chance with the ball.

"He was bowling brilliantly, so I don't think any other spinner will get a go."

Clarke reckoned New Zealand's chief threat would be left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori, who was unlucky not to have gained more success at the Gabba.

"This [Adelaide pitch] always spins a bit more than the Gabba, but I think every wicket brings Vettori into play.
"He's a fantastic bowler and did a great job in Brisbane, and I'm sure he'll bowl pretty well here too."