At the squad's first training session on Monday he was still on standby. He said he hadn't scored enough runs and didn't deserve a spot. The tempo of his voice was calm. He even cracked a joke about his lack of results. The situation might not have been ideal, but he wasn't weighed down by it. It showed Clarke had grown up. Australia's golden child has entered cricketing middle age.

Off the field Clarke has shown impressive maturity - and the sensible head that is missing when he considers an aggressive downswing to a ball requiring non-negotiable defence. While he struggled to turn starts into something significant in England in 2005, Clarke was also sitting at Shane Warne's side and offering support. The 24-year-old novice was listening and counselling the worldly 36-year-old as he dissected the breakdown of the long-term marriage.

'Now I realise it's just a game' © Getty Images

In Cardiff it was Clarke who woke Andrew Symonds by pouring water over his head and dragging him into the shower after his pre-Bangladesh bender. Less than a year later in a Cape Town nightclub Clarke was again the sound reason as Symonds was threatening his career - caught in a heated argument with a Cheetahs Super 14 rugby player. Seize the friend, save the day. Clarke's a valuable man to have in Australia's corner.

Of course good extra-curricular deeds don't translate into steady run-scoring. They don't guarantee places in squads and it was Watson's injury that allowed Clarke an opening. As he waited for news on Watson, Clarke considered the past 18 months. "With age and with time you learn about your own game," he says. "My preparation is much better than it was. I've just got to bide my time and when I get a chance I have to grab it."

At the beginning of his career everything happened in a hurry. Now he has learned to adjust to a slower pace. "Whether I'm scoring runs or not, I accept things now," he says. "Before it was real highs and real lows, now I realise it's just a game. I've got to expect there will be times when you fail. When you're doing well you have to make the most of it."

Slight technical alterations were achieved during the off-season and he has a genuine desire to play straight early in the innings rather than to think about it and then submit to his aggressive instincts. He has worked on balance to avoid his head leading his body towards the off-side and some unplanned knee flexes have been added to his bat tapping.

In Australia's first training session of the week he launched a string of straight sixes off a batch of junior slow men before refocussing. They are not shots that will regain the Ashes.

"It's always in the back of my mind that I lost my first Ashes series and I'd love another chance to be part of winning the series," he said. "It's Australia's biggest series for a long time. The guys just want to get out and play. Given the chance it would be very special."

Clarke first learned of Carpe Diem when watching Robin Williams lecture his school students in the movie Dead Poet's Society. A sweatband will cover most of the tattoo when he bats, but the message is already inscribed in his mind. He's just waiting for a chance to follow the advice.

Yes clarke is an amazing prospect who has been through difficult times.Given the fact that so many australian batsmen are due to retire next year he has to be a regular.Sadly Australia"s strong desire to find their own answer to Flintoff has hurt him.Having seen Clarke bat so brilliantly here in India one hopes he seizes his chance.He is a real long term prospect for Australia and all his extra-curricular activities for some of his team mates will certainly have given him additional maturity.

Added maturity will do wonders for Clarke's batting. He's a wonderful batsman, but too often he plays flashy shots in the air at catchable height. I look forward to him learning to play along the ground and piling on the runs. At 25 he's the most likely leader of the future Australian batting order and now is his chance to show he's worthy of playing at international level.

Michael Clarke is a rare talent. Even as a junior cricketer this was evident. He possesses significant talent and is supported by caring advisors. I just hope the latest selection fad of trying to duplicate Freddie gets seen for its self evident flaw in that you can't create another Freddie, like Michael Clarke, they're born that way. Maybe one day Australia will discover its own version of Flintof, but for now, Clarke at 6, is by far the best option. And did I mention that he will captain Australia one day? He will.

hi there,
i'm a big fan of Michael Clarke, and if it wasn't for him i wouldn't know anything about cricket or the ashes. i watched the 2005 ashes series, and thought he brought class to his 91 at Lord's. he is still quiet young, compared to the other players, and still has a lot to learn. i'm 16 and have learn't a lot the past year in netball and know i have much more to learn and lots of areas i need to develop in. michael clarke is an exciting young cricketer has so much to give to australia cricket. with the australia side slightly getting older, and not performing like their younger days, clarke needs to step up, and it is easy to see that he will become one of australias best. many people can see him becoming the next aussie captain. michael needs to have faith in himself, which he is gradually showing. i believe australia need to leave him in the side, and michael needs to make the most of each opportunity given to him. i enjoy watching michael play and really cant wait till he can stay in this great side.
i'm delighted he has realised a lot after being dropped, about life and cricket, and i wish him all the best in getting back into the australian side and performing his best.

GOODLUCK PUP!!!!!!!!!
luv Jess
(your biggest fan)