It worked in the first Test, restricting the best batsman in the world to 0 (with the ball of the match from James Anderson) and a scratched around 23 from 70 balls.
But Lord’s is a new Test and ground where Clarke has had joy and has had his name added to the honour board.
Clarke hit 91 on debut at Lord’s in 2005, and scored a gallant 136 with rad Haddin at the other end in 2009.
England captain Alastair Cook said Clarke had given them a freebie in promoting himself up the order to number four, after a career filled with success at number five, as now he’s likely to face a shinier, harder ball.
”That is always the advantage of him batting higher up the order for us, if we can get him out earlier with the new ball,” Cook said. Clarke’s average at four is 22, compared to 63 at number five.
Failing that, England will try to choke the Aussie captain for runs.
”It looks to me that England certainly are working on a plan to dry me up because through my career I guess there have been times when I got off to good starts, or quick starts,” Clarke said.
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