Rod Marsh needs to show he’s up to the task and rule Michael Clarke out of first Test at Gabba

MICHAEL CLARKE may have relinquished his role as a selector but he hasn’t changed as a person, writes Robert Craddock.

Michael Clarke today announced as new ambassador for Hublot watchmakers. pic. Phil Hillyard

MICHAEL CLARKE may have relinquished his role as a selector but he hasn’t changed as a person.

Clarke likes to have a healthy, some would say domineering say in matters which concern him and that is what this bizarre fitness fight is all about.

It has been suggested that from the time Cricket Australia officials suggested Clarke would struggle to play in the Test that Clarke set out on a crusade to make sure he did.

But there are times in life when you simply have to save a man from his own ambition.

If Rod Marsh is up to the challenge of being Australia’s chairman of selectors he should make the tough call and rule Clarke out of the first Test.

WHO’S THE BOSS? CLARKE, CA IN DISPUTE

HINDS: ASHES RETENTION THE MAIN GAME

Michael Clarke is desperately fighting to be declared fit for the first Test against India.

Not simply because it is the right call but because it will stop the whole sorry episode of Clarke’s fitness battle from getting any more ridiculous than it is.

On Monday was another cream pie in the face for Australian cricket with Marsh declaring Clarke’s intention of playing in a match against India in Adelaide and Clarke later revealing he had been ruled out of the match.

Clarke was hoping to rely on a game of grade cricket in Sydney next Saturday to prove his fitness for a four-Test series against India.

Really?

Michael Clarke is a new ambassador for Hublot watchmakers. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

If he can’t play Friday, could he really be cherry ripe for Saturday?

And even if he does play Saturday would one crumby grade innings actually prove anything?

The selectors reckon it wouldn’t and you could not blame them for thinking this way.

Clarke’s back is reportedly not up to a plane flight from Sydney to Adelaide.

If this is the case how could it be expected to cope with the strain of ducking under bouncers, scurrying between wickets, diving in the field?

There is something amiss with Australian cricket at the moment.

Michael Clarke reportedly fell out with CA selectors in the UAE during the Test series against Pakistan.

There has been a whisper for several weeks that Clarke fell out with the Australian selectors during the tour of the United Arab Emirates, that he wanted different teams to the ones given to him by Marsh.

It is also understood the selectors were annoyed with Clarke for allegedly saying one thing in public and another in private about the selection prospects of some players.

These are troubling times for Australia because the uncertainty over Clarke, his back and his mindset, casts a pall of tension over the team.

It must be resolved post haste.

Originally published as Rod Marsh needs to show he’s up to the task and rule Michael Clarke out of first Test at Gabba