OK, I'm between a rock and a hard place

When Michael Clarke appeared for his final press conference as Twenty20 captain before Ricky Ponting arrived for the serious part of the tour, he sat down and declared: ''Ricky can have this back.''

The message was clear.

Clarke was tiring of the off-field commitments tied to the Australian captaincy even before the drama surrounding his fiancee, Lara Bingle, became common knowledge. Clarke had already been in serious talks with Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland at a Wellington hotel. They were unlikely to have been discussing the weather.

Clarke's decision to leave New Zealand was in the wind for at least 48 hours before he packed his bags. Flying home to confront relationship issues with his fiancee was not as last-minute as portrayed.

CA knew of potential trouble in paradise a week ago and now, according to Cricket Australia operations manager Michael Brown, Ponting has decided he only wants Clarke back if his personal problems surrounding Bingle and the worth of their engagement have been resolved.

Invader Zim wrote:[shrugs] Sometimes leaders are made not born...look at AB.

As long as it isn't Clarke I'll be happy.

You must feel strongly about it to post during the day....

Invader Zim wrote:Still at home...