Michael Clarke does his annual pre-IPL ritual

[Ram]

Michael Clarke weighs up IPL stint Michael Clarke's desire to improve his Twenty20 skills has got him thinking about taking part in the IPL for the first time - but only if his body is right. Clarke, Australia's captain in the shortest format, did not play in the opening three versions to spend extra time at home in Sydney. Each year he weighs up a decision between making more money or having a holiday, and he hasn't always enjoyed a smooth relationship with Lalit Modi, the former commissioner. Modi is no longer involved in the tournament and Clarke is keeping an open mind about taking part. "It's important for me to play as much Twenty20 cricket as I can but I've also got to sum up my body and my life when it comes to choosing between having that six weeks at home for a break or going to play IPL," Clarke said in the Sunday Telegraph. "If my body feels great and I'm confident I can go out and play those six weeks of the IPL, I'll put myself in the auction. "But I've also got Test cricket and one-day cricket for Australia to think about, our schedule is very busy. If I felt like my body couldn't handle another six weeks of IPL, I wouldn't play it. It would make sense that the closer we get to the next Twenty20 World Cup, the more I'll want to play." Clarke said the IPL had helped develop players, and not just in the T20 arena. "I would love, no doubt, to take part in the IPL," he said. "It's just a matter of when I might be able to play it." In Matthew Hayden's autobiography he wrote about how the Australian players realised they weren't running the show and quickly learned that Modi was dismissive of excessive demands. "Michael Clarke found that out in a hurry," Hayden wrote. "I remember him saying to Modi, 'I'm worth X amount of dollars.' Modi laughed at him."

Every once in a while, before the IPL auctioning begins, Clarkey gives his customery 'feelers', suggesting that he's interested to play in the IPL. It hasnt worked till now, it probably wont work next year either (the dude's a liability to his own national T20 team, doubt if any franchize would be willing to pay top-dollars to have him play for them..) But hey, wonder what those 'fans', who slam our players every time they sign up to play in the IPL as though they're some sort of money-hounds and praised Clarke for his 'commitment to national duty', make of all this now.

[Zero_Unit]

Wow Deja-vu once again! Many more to come -_-'

[canadianIndian]

I doubt if any team will pick him this time. Not for the money he's seeking anyway. He's may be worth 100k but probably wants like a mil.

[Jersey #10]

Talking of auctions, who do you think will go for the highest moniezz? My bet is on SRT to grab the highest price and MSD to follow closely

[achilles]

:hysterical: Give him a base price of $100,000. :hehe:

[sangrock]

:hysterical: Give him a base price of $100,000. :hehe:

lol... +1 to that! I still don't think he'll be sold... wud prob want to captain the team too... egomaniac.

[Guest Gunner]

He is saleable utmost at a discount of 50%. He sucks as a T20 player.

[achilles]

lol... +1 to that! I still don't think he'll be sold... wud prob want to captain the team too... egomaniac.

Yes. And he wouldn't be captain as he isn't as popular among us as say Warney, Gilly and the pack.

[Bradman99]

He needs all the practise he can get in that form haha..

[Sachinism]

"I remember him saying to Modi, 'I'm worth X amount of dollars'. Modi laughed at him." :haha::haha:

[achilles]

"I remember him saying to Modi, 'I'm worth X amount of dollars'. Modi laughed at him." :haha::haha:

. As for Clarke :hehe:

[achilles]

But hey' date=' wonder what those 'fans', who slam our players every time they sign up to play in the IPL as though they're some sort of money-hounds and praised Clarke for his 'commitment to national duty', make of all this now. :P[/quote'] Here-

He needs all the practise he can get in that form haha..

:giggle:

[ViruRulez]

:hysterical: Give him a base price of $100,000. :hehe:

I am not sure he would even go for that price. :haha: Seriously L Modi offered him 1 million base price although he was not a T20 player even then. He was just too lucky and he rejected and now nobody would even take him after all this whingeing in the last two seasons. He is doing quite a lot of Paki U-turns in his IPL decision.

[ensd2]

Talking of auctions, who do you think will go for the highest moniezz? My bet is on SRT to grab the highest price and MSD to follow closely

Shane Watson , Pollard , SWANN

[punjabi_khota]

http://www.cricinfo.com/page2/content/story/483348.html :hysterical::hysterical::hysterical:

[ViruRulez]

http://www.cricinfo.com/page2/content/story/483348.html :hysterical::hysterical::hysterical:

Awesome. One of the funniest if not the funniest ever article on Cricinfo. :hysterical: Hats off to Alan. :hatsoff:

[Ram]

The ironical part was, there was a group here touting Michael Clarke as some sort of modern-day gentleman’s cricketer, who put country before self and all that. What is even more funny is, it was less than 4 weeks ago when the same Michael Clarke was actually taking hidden potshots at Michael Hussey and Doug Bollinger for having arrived for the tests so late, because they had to play in the CL T20.

[Ram]

Btw, why does cricinfo have to make Michael Clarke’s ‘Wanted, an IPL spot’ Ad, a front-page news? If Kevin Pietersen break a thumb-nail, it becomes headline news. If Michael Clarke wants to send out feelers reg. IPL, then he is essentially given free premium ad space on the site. Even since Cricinfo was bought by Wisden, the coverage they give to Poms/Aussies has been disproportionately high and favorable.

[punjabi_khota]

And to think that the dude who gives up IPL/CL blah blah to concentrate on test cricket scores 35 in 4 innings :rotfl:

[achilles]

I am not sure he would even go for that price. :haha: Seriously L Modi offered him 1 million base price although he was not a T20 player even then. He was just too lucky and he rejected and now nobody would even take him after all this whingeing in the last two seasons. He is doing quite a lot of Paki U-turns in his IPL decision.

Yes. And I think the franchises take all statements into consideration. This man has pulled down the same tournament which he now wants to play in, given the "body" (read: base price). His sly digs at MEK and Doug and his 360 now, portrays in a very poor light. But I think Pune might go for him, given that he might brings some star value to the team.

And to think that the dude who gives up IPL/CL blah blah to concentrate on test cricket scores 35 in 4 innings :rotfl:

Balatkaar pe balatkaar.