Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

Will Michael Pup Clarke looking likely to be ruled out of the Boxing Day Test, the Oz media have started to fret over the notion that there doesn't seem to be a succession plan in place for the man who will ultimately replace Clarke as Oz skipper. Given that Twatto is the same age as Clarke, it's unlikely to be him (thank goodness). The media seem to think that perhaps the next skipper isn't even in the current side. So who will it be?

My guess will be Mitchell Starc ( even though I dont like bowling captains ), from the little I have seen of him, he seems to have a great cricketing brain on his shoulders and looks to have a very promising future.

Ricky Ponting!

I have to have a think what Shane Watson being Australian cricket captain is like. Maybe an American teen film where a frat boy who has always idolised a cartoon superhero called The Baggy Green, and his disciples, Bradman, Benaud and Border, drinks too much weird punch at a totally awesome, cool party that he found in a fog when he got lost in his car... and woke up as The Baggy Green. And he can't work it out, because everyone is treating him as if he is The Baggy Green. And he realises that with this power comes really cool responsibility...

If Hughes becomes consistent then IMO he will be preferred as a test captain.

seems crazy for this thread to be put up now IMO...

he has only been captain for a short period of time, and im sure he will be captain for ages, by then someone completely new could be in the frame.

Unless his back gives in.

cricketfan90 wrote:seems crazy for this thread to be put up now IMO...

he has only been captain for a short period of time, and im sure he will be captain for ages, by then someone completely new could be in the frame.

It came up in the Oz media. At current, there is no succession plan, as there was for Michael Clarke himself, who was pencilled in as Punter's replacement before he was even selected to the Test team! And Crabtree is right, if he's back gives in, what then? I guess it will be Twatto's time of that happens... perish the thought!

George Bailey??

Well Bailey.

greyblazer wrote:Well Bailey.

Tend to agree. But he has to make the team first. Even this lot of selectors won't disregard a century of tradition and give the job to a player who isn't in the team on merit.

Mind you , I think Bailey should already have been on the Test squad for the recent England tour.

Bailey should be in that test side at 5, with Smith 6.

cricketfan90 wrote:Bailey should be in that test side at 5, with Smith 6.

I'd keep the top 5 as it is. Bailey at 6.

greyblazer wrote:Well Bailey.

if Clarke fell off the perch right now, I have no doubt Bailey would captain Aus. He'd fill the role of captain very well, imo. Although some may think him to be too nice for the role. As time goes on, I hope other suitable candidates come to the fore - Bailey is about the same age as Clarke, I think.

Agree about Bailey being the natural choice if Clarke decides to call it quits after this Ashes. But personally I think he'll hang on till the 2015 World Cup/Ashes, by which time a new candidate (Steve Smith? Or one of the bowlers?) might have propped up.

But Bailey is the natural emergency choice at the moment and there's no doubt in my mind that he deserves to be in the test side. Wonder if they might consider Rogers, if he can cement his place in the Test side, as a Misbah-esque short term choice. Has done well for Middlesex, I hear.