The Clarke Captaincy

[shankycricket]

Another thing

People say Ponting's average of 41 in the last 4 years(his leanest patch) is equivalent to Strauss' career average who is rightfully regarded as a very good batsman.So why is Ponting's record poor in the last 4 years?

I've posted another, another thing below. That 41 is including the furthest away year which was his best year out of the four. Since then, it's been pretty much down hill.

But still I feel its too early to write off a GREAT player.If he was just a good batsman then you could have been tempted to drop him.But Punter in form is an extraordinary cricketer and even when out of form he isnt terrible.
I am sure he is saving some big runs for India

[Dimi]

They couldn't bring themselves to drop North until there was nothing more he could do to convince them to drop him, so Punter will be safe for a while yet.

[Stroller95]

Ah, but it is a bran nue dae for Australian selection. The question is, does Clarke have the stomach to ditch his mentor? We have already seen Katich binned to foster new prospects.

[PardonWonTheCup]

Marsh would have been selected ahead of both North and Hughes if he had not had those 2 hamstring tears. He was headed straight to the test team before the injury, I reckon.

Yep, he was. He was included in one of the squads then he got two tears in a row. Almost as soon as the first one mended he slid in UAE was it and got another. He's been like Watson in some ways, just can't stay on his pins.

[SaintPowelly]

We have already seen Katich binned to foster new prospects.

Which is exactly why I think Hughes will be given a long run in the side, and the memory of Cook smashing you guys about will probably play in Hughes favour.

I certainly get the feeling he is Australias long term plan.

[PardonWonTheCup]

I hope you mean 'part of'. Gives me the creeps to think he IS the long term plan. Ahhhhhhhh, yuck.

[Stroller95]

I hope you mean 'part of'. Gives me the creeps to think he IS the long term plan. Ahhhhhhhh, yuck.

You remind me of what I thought about Shaun Tait - "Oh, please, let him fail, because I can't watch that for the next 10 years."

[greyblazer]

SRT is a very versatile batsman who can change his game and still succeed. I just don't think Punter is as great as SRT to change his game and succeed. Having said that both are great players.

[greyblazer]

In the 90's, SRT was a compulsive puller. I can certainly remember a few instances like on a pitch with variable bounce in a one-day match in WI in 97, SRT pulling the likes of Bish, Amby and Walsh all over the park but now he doesn't play that pull too many times. He also doesn't play that famous back foot drive that much. Once in Sydney in 03/04 SRT got a double hundred without playing a single cover-drive as he was getting out to that shot in that series. Can Punter do it? if he does it then he is as great as SRT.

[meninblue]

People who are writing off Ponting,just look at Tendulkar guys.
.

Sachin was to be dropped as some posters on CMS posted here years before. I was shocked when i read those posts. So posts suggesting Ponting, Warne, Lara to be dropped are now/were bearable putting that into context.

The opponent cricketers are professionals as well and they will sometimes make your decisions look silly. As far as blunders or captaincy mistakes i have seen Clarke do only two of them.

Thats exactly what I am saying Adi.

[Stroller95]

One thing I have always liked about Australian cricket is that they don't get all shirty and hands-on-hips if someone makes a mistake in the field. Pakistan and India are very hard on each other, for example, shouting and gesticulating at fielding errors.

Clarke is a bit more overtly critical than Ponting regarding errors. I'm not sure how I feel about this. Maybe the guys need a bit more criticism, as the fielding has fallen off lately.

[meninblue]

Congrats to Australia and Clarke on his first overseas win as captain in adverse conditions.

Lyon started the trouble for Lanka by playing a major role in first win, Ryan added to the pressure later and some quality innings by Hussey, Clarke and Phil.

[from_the_stands]

Michael Clarke wants a say on who the next Oz coach should be. This is a good move by him. He's making the right noises so far as captain. It will be interesting to see what noises he makes after losing a series?

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/story/533404.html

He seems to favour Rixon for the South After Africa series. I wouldn't lose any sleep if Rixon got the job full time.

[GGAS]

Can't wait for the Australia SA series. Such a shame its only 2 tests, should be at least 3 or 4. Stupid Champions league

[OffStumpYorker]

I agree with allowing the captain to put forward his thoughts in regards to the candidates, after all the two have to work together, its like I would expect the coach to have his thoughts considerd in regards to a future captain. However, they need to select the best candidate for the job regardless of whether hes liked by the captain or not.