IF there was ever any doubt that Michael Clarke would be Australia's next captain, he dispelled it with the most cool and calculating Test innings of his life at the MCG.
Clarke has expensive tastes - buying fiancee Lara Bingle a $300,000 Aston Martin for Christmas - but he also has common sense in spades.
His rise from Pup to Top Dog is assured after he provided the batting glue (88 off 208 balls) that stuck Australia's wonky top order together in the most important Test match of the year...