COVERED WINTER 2019

COVERED 22 TRENTBRIDGE.CO.UK Watching from the dugout is never nice. If you’re out there, you can control what happens. It was very intense watching. “That’s the incredible thing about cricket, and particularly about the T20 format – a few momentum swingers and suddenly you lose. “I still 100% believe we’re among the top white-ball sides in the country. “We’ve consistently got out of the group stages and that’s what we expect at this Club. “The experience of this year will only help us grow as a team and we’ll be better when we get to that stage again.” White-ball cricket is, of course, all the rage right now – as testified by the onset of The Hundred and other competitions popping up around the globe. As a young, attacking batsman with a sociable character and naturally combative nature, one could argue that short form cricket is just his scene. Clarke, however, is devout in his loyalty to the three lions and the red-ball game. “Since I started, I’ve always played all three formats,” he says. “My red-ball game is very different to how I play my white-ball cricket. “Whenever you step onto the pitch you put everything into it and want to win, and I’d love to play for England no matter what the format. “But the pinnacle is Test cricket. It’s calledTest cricket for a reason. “It’s the biggest challenge you can face. You only had to watch the Ashes this summer.You look at it and think ‘jeez’ – the intensity and standard of cricket is incredible. “So, if I’m ever able to play Test cricket for England, that would be the high- light – but any format would be a dream come true. “Short form cricket is where the game is going, but I don’t think I’ll ever lose the fact that Test cricket is the one.” One thing is for sure, if those ambitions are to be fulfilled, this is a crucial winter. Nobody knows that more than the man himself – and, typically, Clarke’s doing it his way. “I’m going to play club cricket in Australia until February, then come back ready to go for pre-season,” he says. “I’D LOVE TO PLAY FOR ENGLAND NO MATTER WHAT THE FORMAT. BUT THE PINNACLE IS TEST CRICKET. IT’S CALLED TEST CRICKET FOR A REASON.” Joe Clarke