Rise and rise of skipper in waiting

Over the past three seasons of Test cricket Michael Clarke has quietly established himself as Australia's leading batsman and his rise is indisputable, writes Peter Lalor in the Australian.

Clarke's numbers have been imposing for some years now. If you push the starting date back to the start of 2007, Clarke has scored 2324 runs at 56.68 with eight 100s from 28 matches, Ponting 2133 runs at an average of 43.53 with five 100s from 29 matches and Katich 1923 runs at an average of 52 with six 100s from 22 matches. Raw figures are not always the best indication.

Openers will tell you their job is more difficult than anybody else's. The number three will counter it is theirs that is the toughest and few will argue with either statement. The number five, however, would be pushing credibility to mount such an argument.