Clarke second only to Taylor as captain

In a series containing more 180-degree turns than a Jason Statham car chase, Australia applied the handbrake to perform their latest reversal.

Encouragingly for them, it was the recently announced leadership team of Steven Smith and David Warner who belatedly displayed the required discipline to post a substantial total. The improved batting display laid the foundation for providing the departing captain Michael Clarke a fond and fitting farewell rather than a sad one.

Clarke has been an excellent captain, proactive and tactically aware. As a batsman he delighted in entertaining with well-timed shots, and he was also capable of bravery under fire. By keeping Clarke's bat in check along with the team total for the bulk of this Ashes series, England successfully negated Australia's captaincy advantage. On the two occasions that Australia did apply themselves in the first innings, Clarke was able to utilise his imagination and domination was achieved.

I'd place Clarke second only to Mark Taylor among Australia's recent captains when it came to tactical awareness. Like Taylor, Clarke made it abundantly clear to both the opposition and his team-mates that he was seeking victory from ball one. This is paramount, as it galvanises the best players in the team and strikes fear into the heart of many an opposing captain. Clarke had his priorities right: win the match and in the process, entertain where possible.

Clarke was a bold captain, never afraid to dangle a carrot in search of victory. Too many captains rely on closures rather than declarations. The former shuts an opponent out of a game, whereas the latter encourages them to seek victory in the hope it will bring about their downfall. It takes a brave captain to indulge in a challenging declaration because it can occasionally backfire, but Clarke was prepared to take that risk.

The one area where Clarke failed to match Taylor was leadership - the off-field aspect of captaincy. There were rumblings about Clarke's separation from the team off the field, but he showed that leadership wasn't totally foreign to him in the wake of the Phillip Hughes tragedy.

There were many occasions when Clarke led the way with the bat. He enjoyed a golden run of three double-centuries and a triple in 2012, highlighting how the extra responsibility boosted his batting prowess.

Nevertheless, the Clarke innings I rated his best was a pre-captaincy 136 at Lord's in 2009, when he defied a barrage of demanding deliveries from Andrew Flintoff and James Anderson in a losing cause. Though some of his batting during that golden patch was in favourable conditions, that Lord's performance was an innings where Clarke's capabilities were fully tested by quality opposition, and his defiance was a triumph of technique and temperament.

For pure bravery, his century at Newlands in 2013-14 - where he was buffeted, bounced and bruised by Morne Morkel - stands out, with one rider: how did a batsman of his calibre get hit so many times? The answer could have been his dodgy back, which often troubled him and made a long career unlikely.

The other curious thing about Clarke's batting was his reluctance to move up the order, and an almost superstitious stubbornness about remaining at his favoured No. 5 spot. While Clarke wasn't an ideal No. 3, when you're the best batsman in a troubled line-up, there's no alternative but to bat there. It's far easier coming in at one for a few rather than three for very little.

While Clarke won't be leaving Smith the wonderful legacy of a team retaining the Ashes, at least the side has displayed the required fight at The Oval for a successful rebuild. Smith has the foundation of a good side that will be his team rather than Clarke's leftovers.

Smith helped set the stage for Clarke to enjoy a fond farewell by scoring a responsible century at No. 3. His own captaincy will profit if he ignores the clamouring for him to drop down to No. 4 and continues to dictate the pattern of play from three.