Clarke checks in

The Australian Test and ODI skipper will bring plenty of experience with him,but not so much in the Twenty20 format. Clarke has featured in only 40 Twenty20 matches in his career,34 of which were international matches. The other six,the only domestic T20 games he has been involved in so far,came nearly eight years ago,when he played for Hampshire in the 2004 English Twenty20 Cup. Clarkes last T20 match came in October 2010,for Australia against Sri Lanka,a few months after which he retired from international T20s. His T20 record is modest,with only one half-century in 34 innings that fetched him 639 runs at an average of 22.03 and a strike rate of 108.85.

Abhijit Sarkar,director,Pune Warriors,pooh-poohed any fears about Clarkes underwhelming T20 history. Pedigree is pedigree, he said.

Clarke certainly has plenty of that,as the Indian team discovered to their detriment on their tour of Australia,where he scored 626 runs in four Tests at 125.20,with a triple century at Sydney and a double at Adelaide. In the tri-series that followed,Clarke scored 331 runs in six innings at 55.16,with a hundred and two fifties,before he was struck down with a hamstring injury.

Stable option

Moreover,a batsman in Clarkes mould may well be what Pune need most at this point. Last season,Pune finished second from bottom,and while their bowling seemed to possess adequate depth and options,they suffered a distinct lack of stability with the bat,with their batsmen managing just five half-centuries between them. Only Rajasthan Royals,among the other franchises,scored fewer.

This season,without Yuvraj Singh,Punes batting looks even less secure. Clarke may not be the complete solution 8211; he certainly doesnt possess Yuvrajs ability to clear the fence 8211; but he may well fill part of the gap. His handy left-arm spin will also go some way towards filling the Yuvraj void.

Yuvraj was Punes skipper last year,but never looked comfortable in the role,and often cut an aloof figure on the field when things were going bad for his team. Ganguly has taken over the reins this season,but he is nearly 40 and cant conceivably go on playing for too much longer. Clarkes reputation as a leader skyrocketed following his bright,inventive captaincy displays during Australias 4-0 whitewash of India. His signing suggests that Pune might be looking at the 30-year-old as a long-term captaincy option.

Asked about this,Sarkar was non-committal. We will think about next season when we get there, he said. For now,we have signed him to play the last six games for us after the end of Australias tour of the West Indies,and then,if we get through,the knockout matches. Speaking to ESPNCricinfo,Ganguly welcomed Clarkes signing. He can bat and he can bowl. He is a big player, Ganguly said.

Short Takes

Injured Taylor hopeful of playing for Daredevils

Wellington: New Zealand cricket captain Ross Taylor remains hopeful of taking some part in next month8217;s IPL despite breaking his arm in the third Test against South Africa. Taylor underwent surgery Tuesday to have a pin and plate inserted in his right arm,fractured when he was hit by a bouncer from his Delhi Daredevils teammate,South African paceman Morne Morkel. The 28-year-old batsman said Wednesday he hasn8217;t given up hope of taking up his contract with Delhi. Taylor said he had been told he will be out of action for four weeks.

Skipper White terms Ishants absence a big loss

Hyderabad: Deccan Chargers8217; stand-in skipper Cameron White termed the absence of their star pacer Ishant Sharma,who has been ruled out of the IPL season-5 following an ankle surgery,as a 8220;big loss8221; for the team. 8220;There8217;s no doubt about that8230;it8217;s a big loss. We have to step ahead and fill the void by playing well,8221; said White. Ishant,who was suffering from a bone impingement on his left ankle,underwent a surgery a week back. .

Spinners need to be skillful in T20: Mishra

Hyderabad: Deccan Chargers Amit Mishra said that spinners need to be more skillful and act fast to compete in the Twenty20 cricket,Mishra said: 8220;Spinners have to do more hard work than speedsters in T20. 8220;Spinners need to have lot of skills and have to think fast and work on identifying the weaknesses of the opponents. If you have skills you can prove yourself even on batsmen friendly wickets,8221; he said.