'Lovely touch from Alastair Cook to take off his cap to say good luck'
Friday 21 August 2015 09:54, UK
Michael Atherton says it was a touching tribute from England to give out-going Australia captain Michael Clarke a guard of honour as he walked out to the crease on day one of the final Ashes Test at The Oval.
Clarke announced he is to retire at the end of the fifth Test after Australia surrendered the Ashes at Trent Bridge, falling 3-1 behind in the series with one to play.
"It was a touching moment when he came out onto the pitch," said Atherton. "A standing ovation from the crowd and a guard of honour from England for a long-serving and fine player.
"It was a lovely touch from Alastair Cook to take off his cap and say good luck to his opposite number, but then that quickly stops, you want to get him out, and old hostilities resume."
Clarke could only manage 15 in what is likely his penultimate bat for Australia on an otherwise successful day for the visitors as they reached stumps on 287-3 after being put into bat by England.
Openers David Warner (85) and Chris Rogers (43) – also playing in his last Test – shared a stand of 110, while Steve Smith (78no) and Adam Voges (47no) added another century stand with an unbeaten partnership of 101 going into day two.
"It about sums up Clarke's tour," added Atherton. "He got a pretty good ball from Ben Stokes, and had a little nibble at it.
"It must have been the faintest of touches as hot-spot didn't pick it up but snicko did. He'll have one more innings to go and then he can lie on Bondi Beach.
"I suppose he may look back and think, 'should I have gone after the World Cup? Was that the perfect time?' But you're always sucked in by an Ashes tour – he has never won a series in England and wanted the chance to put that to rest.
"He just happens to have played in an era where England have been stronger than Australia. That's his misfortune – but they've still been a pretty good side and he's a damn fine player.
"But Australia showed some old fashioned application today, Test match fundamentals, particularly in the opening hour, with Chris Rogers and David Warner battling through and only scoring 19.
"From that platform, Australia have had a very good day, and an important one too as, although the Ashes are done, Clarke's rallying cry before the game was to show some fight and they've certainly done that."
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