Michael Clarke warns Australian Test selectors over looming retirements

Michael Clarke was there the day Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer all played their last Test together, and has warned Australian selectors to not let history repeat itself with mass retirements on the horizon.

Former captain Michael Clarke believes the Australian Test team needs to stagger star retirements over the coming years to avoid falling off the international cricket cliff.

The current Australian side is bracing for major generational change with six players in the squad for the upcoming series of Sri Lanka aged 33 or above – Alex Carey (33), Mitchell Starc (34), Steve Smith (35), Scott Boland (35), Nathan Lyon (37) and Usman Khawaja (38).

That number will likely grow to seven when Josh Hazlewood (34) returns ahead of the World Test Championship final.

The final against South Africa in June, and the home Ashes series against England in November, could appear to be the perfect swan song for some of those players who are looking to end their careers on a high.

The current Test side is bracing for the departure of several experienced players over the coming years, including Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith. Picture: AFP

However, Clarke has warned selectors to ensure they are always thinking about the future following his own experiences in the Test side from 2007 onwards.

Stalwarts of the Australian team including Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Justin Langer, Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Brett Lee, Andrew Symonds, and Stuart MacGill all retired from Test cricket within 24 months of each other.

Those mass changes inevitably led to some disappointing performances – particularly the 2010/11 Ashes campaign that England won 3-1 in Australia. Clarke says it’s important that history doesn’t repeat itself.

Clarke (L) was part of the Australian XI on the day that Warne (pictured), McGrath and Langer all played their final Tests. Picture: Gregg Porteous

“We lost Warnie, McGrath and Langer on the same day, and that was really hard for us to recover from,” Clarke said on Thursday as he was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.

“I think you listen to the players speak and they know their age. They know if they’ve got enough cricket left in them. They know if they’re playing well or not playing well.

“Everyone’s aware of the current situation and I don’t think anybody would like to see four or five players go at once. I think we all understand the impact that would have on Australian cricket.

“When these players go, if ideally, you can selectively allow them one at a time to go, I think that would be the dream come true.

“Very rarely do you get the fairytale – as a batsman to make a hundred and walk off when you want raising your bat, or as a bowler take five wickets and walk off sticking the ball in the air.

“I’d imagine there’d be some conversations already happening in and around the group with the right people so you can allow these players that have given a lot to Australian cricket to go on their terms as much as they possibly can.”

The 2006-07 Ashes was a changing of the guard for the Australian side, and next summer’s series is looming as something similar. Picture: Phil Hillyard

It’s part of the reason why Clarke thinks sticking with a balance of youth in the team is so important – particularly when it comes to prodigious opening batter Sam Konstas.

Konstas became the fourth-youngest Test debutant for Australia on Boxing Day, with the 19-year-old now turning his attention to keeping his spot at the top of the order in Sri Lanka.

He is one of four players 25 and under on the tour along with Cooper Connolly (21), Todd Murphy (24) and Nathan McSweeney (25). Cameron Green (25) will join that contingent when he returns from a back injury later this year.

Clarke’s belief is that Australia should stick with Konstas as an opener for the first Test in Galle instead of moving Travis Head up the order, to give both the youngster and the other players in the squad confidence ahead of the major period of transition that is looming.

Clarke believes Australia should stick with Sam Konstas in Sri Lanka as they find an XI that balances experience and youth. Picture: Getty Images

“I think (Sam) would be happy to play,” Clarke said. “I don’t think we need to change too much in regards to structure, we’ve just come off a win.

“Conditions are very different, but I think Trav’s been extraordinary through the middle order. And the other thing, I don’t think it’s going to matter. You’re going to start against the spinner, or you’re going to bat at five, you’re going to walk in and start against the spinner. Get used to facing spin bowling because you’ve got two Test matches of it.

“Sam’s an enormous talent. And I think Australian cricket continues to produce young, talented players in both men’s and women’s cricket. And we’re lucky we’ve got senior players in both as well to now help guide these youngsters through.

“That’s where I was so lucky. That team I came into as a baby, you learn so many things by having good senior players around you. So, Sam is one of the examples where he’s lucky to have these senior players around him.”