It what has become another disgrace in Australia's recent cricket history, Michael Clarke has decided that it is everyone else's fault. Here I was following the cricket on-line and Australia cruising at 2/120 when I had to get my head into work. I was surprised when I was able to later check the score and see that Australia had found a way to lose the game, but I was not shocked. This is something that Michael Clarke and the selectors could have avoided but decided to stick their heads up their ass and continue with faith that all was ok with the Australian batting lineup.
Clarke has now come out after the game and stated that some tough decisions will need to be made before the selection of the Boxing day test and in his words "Since I've taken over the captaincy, I've made it very clear that my one vote on selection will not be personal, it'll be whatever I think is best for the team." Well Clarke has been given the selection he thinks is best for the team and yet again it failed. The only out the selectors and Clarke has is to make wholesale changes to a batting lineup that couldn't make runs after eating a dodgy curry in Mumbai.
Clarke is now saying that the players he has publicly stated he wants in the team and deserved to be in the team may no longer be good enough to be in his team. When Clarke next talks to the media he needs to publicly admit that he got it wrong, make an apology for his teams performance and start realising it is an honour to play for Australia not a right because the captain likes you.
Clarke's favourite opener Hughes must definitely never get another look at a baggy green until he has scored a mountain of runs at state level and even then be told he is not good enough. Will Clarke admit he got this selection wrong is something to be seen though. And then we has Khawaja, a player with talent that is yet to convert but also being put under extra pressure of being made a first drop who may as well pad up before a ball is bowled and wait on the boundary, ready. I have said in the past he has potential yet I will not be surprised if he gets dropped as one of the few changes.
And then we get in the problem no one will admit to and just mentioning that he should be dropped will start debate and that is Ponting. Again Ponting has failed and looked awful in his dismissal, he is out of form and only holding back an opportunity for a talented player in form to play for his country. The only question is whether Clarke has the ability to put the axe to Ponting. Ponting has been a great player in the past but at the moment he is an obstacle in a team trying to rebuild. Sometimes the foundations need to be removed completely before rebuilding.
Another experienced player who is lucky if he can last more than a few overs at the moment is Hussey. Not long ago he was the form player but that now seems a long time ago and looks like it is a long way off. He might have taken a crucial wicket but that is not what he is in the team for. Time to cut this player loose too.
After Hughes my next selection to be dropped is Haddin. His ability to get out to poor shots and to balls that he could leave or hit anywhere but to a fielder is too consistent. Clarke might like this guy too much and for me that is the only reason he must be getting selected. There are plenty of excellent glovemen around the country and all of them can bat, not quite sure why Australia keep sticking with one who is not doing enough with the bat or gloves.
With all the changes I think need to be made one could ask who do you bring in, and that is fair enough. I would keep Warner after his debut century that should have been crowned as a match winning century. With Marsh and Watson returning from injury Australia could have a very solid 1, 2, 3. An opening partnership of a dynamic Warner with the patience of Marsh being backed up at first drop for a technically correct and explosive player like Watson is a combination that can put on consistent good starts for a middle order. Clarke should be coming in at 4 with Christian and Khawaja filling 5 & 6. For all the changes you only have one player on debut and a lot more class and ability.
The wicket-keeper would be Wade who is more than capable of showing Haddin how to play a tough innings when required. As for the bowlers the only change that needs to be made is that of Starc. He still has a lot of work to do on his game and should be doing it at state level. He bowls too many loose balls and even though he can bowl a great ball he does not put any pressure on the batsmen.
The selection of the team for the Boxing day test will cause plenty of debate but the worst thing the selectors can do is think that generally things are ok and only minimal changes need to be done. This is not a batting line up that has only just started to fail, they have been on a downward slide for a long time now. Only question is whether or not the selectors and Clarke are strong enough to admit they got it wrong and are prepared to make the hard decisions.
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