Australia and life without Michael Clarke.

[from_the_stands]

I remember as a kid, the impending retirements of Greg Chappell, Rod Marsh, and Dennis Keith Lillee made it seem as though life would never quite be the same again. Then it was AB, Tubby, Billy, the Waughs, McGrath & Warney, Gilly, Haydos, and Punter. Now it seems that Michael Clarke is about to ride off into the sunset (toward a hospital for scans and goodness knows what else), leaving a rising giant to ponder life without one of its finest warriors. And the timing is terrible. A Test series has just gotten under way, engulfed in high emotion following possibly the saddest tragedy the game has witnessed. A home World Cup with the hosts as favourites is only months away. And an Ashes campaign is looming in six months.

There would appear to be a consensus in that Steve Smith will most likely be our next captain, becoming the youngest Oz captain since Kim Hughes. Having now seen a bit of Smith, he is absolutely the best choice, and he's ready. A case could be made for Dave "put up your dukes" Warner, but I'd like to see him concentrating on his batting, which is absolutely electrifying right now. In Smith, I reckon Australia potentially has a leader capable of leading the team through an era of domination not unlike the those golden years under Taylor, Waugh and Punter in his first few years as skipper. Australia dominating the game for the next ten years is something that sits very well in my part of the world. Someone has to rule it, so it might as well be us!

In terms of replacing Clarke in the batting order, that's a toughie, especially since we haven't really replaced Ponting at 3! Steve smith looks certain to move up to 4, which would have been unthinkable 2 years ago. I must admit, I'm not jumping over the moon about this, having ony just gotten used to him at 5, where I think his long term future is. Shaun Marsh appears to be the man coming in at 5, which could work out well (or not) given that Mitch Marsh is at 6. The thing is, Shaun Marsh is just as injury prone as Clarke... and Twatto. The man I'd like to see in there in the short term is Adam Voges, but I can't see that happening unless players come down with injuries left, right and centre (which could happen). Long term, as I've already suggested on other threads, the man who slots in here is Chris Lynn, but alas, he's currently injured... sigh. As for who comes in for Twatto the next time he hurts himself (which could happen) or the selectors come to their senses and get rid of him, (which is unlikely to happen any time soon), we might see someone new at some point, or we may see Alex Doolan or Usman Khawaja given another run. If the selectors went down this road, I have a hunch that they would go for Khawaja. If they went for someone new, then possibly Joe Burns, particularly if the selectors pension Chris Rogers off and recall Ed Cowan, who is on fire this season with four fc centuries from 5 matches.

It'll be interesting to see how this all pans out, if Pup does call it a day. Some big decisions would appear to be looming for Rod Marsh et al. An exciting period is awaiting Australian cricket.

The top 6 I would like to see in Brisbane;

Ed Cowan
Dave Warner
Joe Burns
Steve Smith (c)
Adan Voges
Mitch Marsh

The top 6 we will see in Brisbane;

Chris Rogers
Dave Warner
Shane Watson
Steve Smith
Shaun Marsh
Mitch Marsh

The top 6 in 2-3 years;

Dave Warner
Joe Burns
Usman Khawaja
Chris Lynn
Steve Smith (c)
Mitch Marsh

[Durhamfootman]

I confess that the idea of Steve Smith (or Sean Smith as Scyld Berry would probably call him) becoming captain seems faintly ridiculous to me, but then I thought that Smith as a test player was equally ridiculous, and he went on to become a very fine test player, so why not?

[Durhamfootman]

Do Aus bother with vice captains?

Will it be Haddin who takes the arm band for the rest of this series?

[from_the_stands]

Smith has been given the nod, and will lead the Aussies for the remainder of the series.

[from_the_stands]

I posted this on the match thread;

http://www.cricketaustralia.com.au/media/media-releases/ca-announce-australia-test-team-leadership-changes/2014-12-15

[from_the_stands]

It hasn't been announced on channel 9 yet, on account of the siege in Sydney being all over the news.

[Gingerfinch]

Don't know much about Smith, but he looks like the sort of captain that will be a little unorthodox. His batting has come on, so no problems with his warranting a place. Thought Warner might have been in with a shout. He's a bit calmer than he was a year or so ago.

[GarlicJam]

What captaincy experience Warner has is a big question to ask if considering him as candidate. Smith on the other hand, has had a fair bit. I can't recall any controversy he has been involved in, either.

I am happy with the choice. Preferably it would have happened in another year, but now will have to do.

[Aidan11]

I've always thought of Aussie captains as tough, gritty characters (Kim Hughes aside, of course).

Smith doesn't fit that criteria for me.

[yuppie]

Smith becomes captain with less than 2000 test runs and only 5 test hundreds. 3rd youngest in the team as well.

He is the second best bat in the team at present behind Warner, and can take the odd useful wicket if he bowls himself. I get and understand the decision, but i cant help but think he has not finished with the development of his batting. As a batsman he is not the finished article for me and i think the burden of being captain might stunt this development.

I like Smith as a batsman, and i think he is much tougher than many give him credit for. I liked the fight he showed in the UAE and how he was always dissapointed when he got out. Seemed like he always thought he could save the match no matter the situation.

I see Kim Hughes mentioned a lot. I hope people are not expecting the same thing to happen to Smith. I actually think AB is a better comparison. Unorthodox batsman, part time spinner, quitely spoken, steely determination, good feilders. Main difference is that AB didnt want the job and Smith is in a settled team and has not been pushed into the job.

[Arthur Crabtree]

It looks like he is only skipper while Clarke is out. If Clarke returns, he comes back as captain.

[m@tt]

There would appear to be a consensus in that Steve Smith will most likely be our next captain, becoming the youngest Oz captain since Kim Hughes. Having now seen a bit of Smith, he is absolutely the best choice, and he's ready. In Smith, I reckon Australia potentially has a leader capable of leading the team through an era of domination not unlike the those golden years under Taylor, Waugh and Punter in his first few years as skipper. Australia dominating the game for the next ten years is something that sits very well in my part of the world. Someone has to rule it, so it might as well be us!

A bold claim!

Good on Australia in making a strong choice.

I have fuzzy memories of last year at Trent Bridge, many beers down, telling the Aussies in front of me that I liked Smith as a player - he had something about him, but just didn't look quite good enough. (Sadly I have no memory at all of Hughes batting at the other end). Not sure if that was a compliment - do Australians want their players to be liked by the English?! Respected, feared, but liked?

[from_the_stands]

There would appear to be a consensus in that Steve Smith will most likely be our next captain, becoming the youngest Oz captain since Kim Hughes. Having now seen a bit of Smith, he is absolutely the best choice, and he's ready. In Smith, I reckon Australia potentially has a leader capable of leading the team through an era of domination not unlike the those golden years under Taylor, Waugh and Punter in his first few years as skipper. Australia dominating the game for the next ten years is something that sits very well in my part of the world. Someone has to rule it, so it might as well be us!

A bold claim!

Good on Australia in making a strong choice.

I have fuzzy memories of last year at Trent Bridge, many beers down, telling the Aussies in front of me that I liked Smith as a player - he had something about him, but just didn't look quite good enough. (Sadly I have no memory at all of Hughes batting at the other end). Not sure if that was a compliment - do Australians want their players to be liked by the English?! Respected, feared, but liked?

As a die hard Aussie, I can honestly say that I prefer the English to loathe our players, as we do when England have some decent players. Loathing an Ashes opponent is really a round-about way of rating a worthy adversary. KP, for example, is loathed over here, yet he is a worthy adversary, or a formidable opponent. I'm guessing the Poms have a love-hate thing for the likes of Shane Warne and Glenn "Australia will win 5-0" McGrath. Ricky Ponting was another villain. Steve Smith is still young. Give him time. He might just take a swing at Joe Root next year. What will you think of him then?

[GarlicJam]

He doesn't need to resort to violence, fts, a mere 4 or 5 centuries during the Ashes will do the job nicely.

[from_the_stands]

He doesn't need to resort to violence, fts, a mere 4 or 5 centuries during the Ashes will do the job nicely.

Yeah, that would work. He could then endear himself further by claiming that England never had a chance without KP.