Brad Haddin omission hardest decision of my career: Darren Lehmann

Australia had won the first Test impressively, but are thoroughly outplayed in Port Elizabeth. “Don’t get me wrong – we didn’t plan to be bowled out the way we were today”.

“He must be judged on his output, which is run-making”.

The defeat which came well inside three days has certainly hurt Australia and Clarke called for an improved display from the team in all departments. “It’s a disappointing game for us and we’ve just got to cop the criticism we cop and get back on and work out what the best XI is to win the next Test match“.

Instead, he’s quick to lay the blame squarely at those famous feet, which haven’t quite been moving with the fluency for which they’re renowned.

“I think you can see now the wicket has deteriorated a little bit”.

Our batting has been inconsistent apart from at Lord’s and our middle order has been put under so much pressure.

“At the highest level in sport, you’re judged on performance – it’s as simple as that”. It is another obstacle that would make success all the more rewarding, but failure all the more disheartening. It showed Clarke is not in the right frame of mind as captain, and the right thoughts are not ideally going through his mind.

With Australia needing to win both the remaining matches to win the series, Clarke sounded confident of regaining his touch to lead from the front.

Battles have been won, but the war rumbles on.

Clarke’s dip in form with the bat has fuelled speculations that he may drop down to number five in the batting line-up.

Clarke’s close friend and former team-mate Shane Warne has advised him to take a break from cricket before the fourth Test at Trent Bridge that starts on Thursday but the captain, who played the tour game against Derbyshire before Edgbaston, is not convinced. I expect Shaun Marsh will come in and bat at four which would allow Clarke to go to five where he has done really well.

The shift appears likely, though Clarke is yet to commit to it, at least publically, playing down its importance.

Not only is Anderson England’s most successful Test bowler of all-time, with 413 wickets – including an Ashes-best six for 47 at Edgbaston – he also has a brilliant record at Trent Bridge. But he’s got to play well.

Jason Gillespie, writing for The Guardian, suggested Clarke’s time may be up if he fails to deliver in the next two Tests. But a cricketer losing his spunk is imperilling.

“If you look at his numbers over the past two years, he has scored two hundreds in 28 innings but has not gone past 50 on any other occasion”. “I’ve always believed in preparation being crucial throughout my career – through the tough times and the good times I’ve always stuck by that. The next few days will be about balance – when I’m not training, I will get away from cricket and clear my head”.

And given the best way fortunes have swung over the primary three matches on this collection, it might not be a serious shock to see Clarke notching his twenty ninth check century to lead his aspect to a thumping victory.

And, despite Haddin’s availability, Australia have opted to keep faith with the 29-year-old.

“(This is a) big Test match for us”, he added. David Warner missed Zimbabwe for the birth of his child, no guarantees he was going to play one-day cricket.

Or perhaps the plea was for personal use.

August 6, 2015. All will be revealed.