No one can question Clarke's desire to see Australia win

Clarke celebrates his century
Source: Getty Images-ESPN Cricinfo

Michael Clarke has lead Australia to five victories, made his highest ever score and inspired a bunch of new faces to perform superbly, since taking command of the Australian test side. In my eyes, his newly established reign as captain, has been the catalyst for a wave of exciting cricket and the beginning of a fantastic new era in the Australian team.

Clarke's promotion to captain has seen him lead the team in nine test matches thus far. The Australians have been able to win five of these and lose just two. having inherited a decaying Australian squad with new, raw and exuberant youth, these results are quite extraordinary. Wins over Sri Lanka on a turning dusty track, South Africa away from home and two convincing victories over the world number two, India, have all been highlights thus far.

Unlike his predecessors, Clarke has been required to lead a team without any serious contenders for a place in a hypothetical world XI. Ponting had himself, Warne, Hayden and McGrath at the peaks of their powers and merely had to tell them when to bowl and construct a batting order. Clarke on the other hand, has needed to be inventive, unorthodox and proactive in his captaincy.

Clarke has turned Michael Hussey's gentle medium pace bowling, into a golden arm, partnership breaking strike weapon. He's demonstrated great confidence in himself to bowl to, and dismiss, Sachin Tendulkar. He has rotated his quick bowlers intelligently and never allowed the pace of the game to be dictated by an opponent. Across all captaincy criteria, he has succeeded and lead the side admirably.

It seems that the increased responsibility has added an additional dimension to Clarke's game as a batsman. Since becoming full-time captain, he has scored 902 test runs at an average of 64.42. As captain, once he has passed a score of 30, he has only been dismissed for less than 100 on two occasions, one of those a gutsy 60 in difficult conditions. Now that he has the role as leader, it would appear he knows that if he gets his eye in, he must convert his innings into big scores and lead by example. When Michael Clarke, captain of Australia, is set at the crease, look out bowlers, he won't be an easy wicket by any means.

Clarke has often been criticised for only being able to make big scores once a large platform had already been laid. However, since taking over the job as commander and chief, Clarke has produced some superb knocks while under pressure. Many of his early test centuries were made after the top order had already plundered the bowling attack, but since becoming the boss, he has responded to pressure with four test centuries.

Clarke's 60 in his first match as captain, was the steel that held Australia's second innings together. On a dusty pitch in Sri Lanka, Clarke displayed great determination to stay at the crease and was surprisingly confident in his stroke-play. The innings was complimented as having been worth 100 because the pitch was so tough to bat on.

In Capetown, Clarke came to the crease with the score at 3-40, he went on to play a blinding innings of 151 under tremendous pressure and built a solid first innings lead for Australia. Despite losing the game by so much, his innings was a certain highlight in a superb test match.

At 3-91, the new Australian captain came to the crease for his first test as official leader in Australia and struck 139 runs at the Gabba. His innings featured some luck, after being recalled, having been bowled on a no-ball. But if there's something Clarke has brought to the team, it is the determination to make the most of any opportunity you get, including second chances.

And last, but certainly not least, the score was 3-37 when Michael Clarke made his way to the center of the Sydney Cricket Ground. For the next 609 minutes, Clarke made his home ground his own. He was unstoppable on his way to an unbeaten 329 which broke records and set up a spectacularly convincing Australian win.

If Clarke's leadership does not waver, he will certainly become one of Australia's greatest captains ever. His 'put the team first' attitude has already drawn praise, and while some of his press room comments may seem somewhat scripted to gain public popularity, no one can question his desire to see Australia win. While he may not be Australia's best batsman, toughest cricketer or most charismatic individual, he certainly has drive and a passion to give his new role his all and so far you cannot fault his efforts.

Michael Clarke celebrates after dismissing Sachin Tendulkar at the SCG
Source: Nathan Kiely