Clarke draws on life lessons to keep sense of perspective

Australia’s loss at Cardiff and their subsequent disarray might have spooked a captain who has seen less of life and less of cricket. But Michael Clarke is playing in his seventh ashes — and has learned a thing or two about what really matters over the years.

His dad les’s diagnosis with cancer eight years ago changed his outlook for ever. les is now in remission, but the experience helped Clarke deal with the death of his close friend and test teammate Phil Hughes in November after he was struck on the side of the neck by a short- pitched delivery during a game in sydney.

Defeat in a game of cricket may not be the australian captain’s idea of fun. But given what he has been through, it barely registers on his emotional richter scale.

‘My perspective on the game probably hasn’t changed, because of what i went through with my father. that helped me with what happened last summer,’ he said, alluding to the Hughes tragedy.

‘i’ve always loved playing cricket and loved playing for australia. tomorrow morning at five o’clock i’ll open the curtains and pray to God it’s not raining. if it’s not, it’ll be “you beauty, we’re playing today”.

‘i was like that when i was seven, and i’m like that now at 34. When that stops, my time’s up in the game.’

australia will need Clarke’s sangfroid when the second test begins at lord’s. already deprived of the injured ryan Harris, they will be without veteran wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who has pulled out for personal reasons, and probably shane Watson, too, who is set to be replaced at No 6 by Mitchell Marsh.

should the tourists go 2-0 down, Clarke faces the prospect of finishing on the losing side in an ashes series for the fifth time.

But this is decidedly not the moment for panic.

‘there’s no reason not to be calm right now,’ he said. ‘We’ve lost a test match. it’s happened plenty of times in my career and it will continue to happen. You’re going to take a few hits in sport, but when you get momentum you’ve got to run with it as well.

‘i’m pretty relaxed where things are at. there have been no surprises. England have played exactly how i thought they’d play.

‘We knew they’d be tough in these conditions. We’ve got to play better. it’s pretty simple.

‘i’ve probably learned to be a lot more level whether i fail or succeed personally. i’m a lot more chilled out about that and that’s certainly helped my game.’

Which is not to say a few runs wouldn’t hurt. since making 148 at adelaide during the 5-0 whitewash in 2013-14, Clarke has managed 143 test runs against England at an average of 17 — including scores of 38 and four at Cardiff.

But he insists the clock is not ticking on his retirement. ‘i don’t think my personality is to try to set a time. that would mean it’s time to walk away because i’m thinking about a time to retire.

‘i made a decision at midnight after the World Cup semi-final that i was going to retire from one-day cricket and next day i announced it. so i think test cricket will be the same. if it doesn’t feel right, i’ll stop playing. ‘But right now i’m loving the challenge and being around the boys. Hopefully i can be around for the rest of the series.’

australia’s silent prayer is that Clarke’s calmness won’t be stretched to breaking point in the weeks ahead. Qantas ambassador Michael Clarke (left) was sharing his tips with pupils at a coaching clinic at St Edwards RC primary school in north London