Old Oz guard comes out in support of Captain Clarke

Melbourne, Feb.9 : Former Australian stars have heaped praise on Michael Clarke's outstanding captaincy during last Friday's stirring Twenty20 victory.

Former captain Mark Taylor told The daily Telegraph: "I think people sometimes see Michael Clarke as a Lamborghini-driving bloke who is engaged to a model and don't look at him as a person and potential captain."

"Over the last couple years he's shown greater responsibility with the bat, his fielding is good, his energy is good and as people saw the other night, he has the potential to be a very good captain. At the moment he ticks all the right boxes as far as I'm concerned," Taylor added.
 

Clarke's attacking leadership led Australia to a two-run victory over Pakistan defending a meagre 127. It came at the MCG in front of the biggest crowd of the summer, 60,045.

Two years ago as a stand-in for Ponting, Clarke led Australia to a thumping nine-wicket victory over India in front of a world-record Twenty20 crowd of more than 84,000 at the same ground.

"I was very impressed. When in doubt, he went the attacking option,” Taylor said.

Former vice-captain Ian Healy said: "It was a very impressive performance. I liked the way the team responded to him as well. He's taken on a more serious demeanor with the team instead of the smiling vice-captain, which is good.”

"His attacking instincts were good. The total demanded that he had to attack at certain times and he got it right," Healy added.
 
Clarke has won 12 of 15 one-day matches since leading his first team on the tour of the West Indies 18 months ago, and has not lost a match in three previous attempts at leading the Twenty20 side going back two years, with two wins and a washout.

Dean Jones, a former Victoria skipper, was so impressed with Clarke's captaincy on Friday night he felt the New South Welshman should have been man of the match instead of Tait.

Former opener Michael Slater said: "I think he's got a very good cricket brain."