*Official* Fifth Test at the SCG

[Spikey]

He's actually quite a poor Limited Overs bowler atm.

neither is siddle tbf

 

[Nate]

neither is siddle tbf

...what does that have to do with anything?

 

[Spikey]

well being a poor limited overs bowler has never stopped the selectors from picking him in ODers if he's in test squad plans ala Siddle and Hilf.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Would surely have to be Clarke then, both in terms of being Ponting's annointed successor, and having at least 5 years to mould a new team?

I think that this is the sticking point with people (both the public and within CA), that it is Clarke who has the job of moulding Test cricketers for our future.

Another example here: Australia wants answers over our future captaincy and the impending series defeat | Herald Sun

If you believe the speculation whirring behind the scenes, there are emerging doubts within the inner-sanctum.

The rumours started in Perth before the third Test when Ponting had to confront his deputy about sending the wrong message to the team.

Sources close to the team speak of Clarke angrily complaining about the green top at the WACA ground, specifically to opener Phil Hughes.

It is said Ponting was far from impressed with the vice-captain bringing such talk to the dressing room.

Neither were others within the CA hierarchy when they heard about it. Given his miserable form, Hughes was the last person who needed to hear about the possibility of getting out.

Narky dressing room incidents occur daily and you would trust the man favoured to replace Ponting wouldn't be so pessimistic, but such talk lines up with reports out of Lords during last year's Ashes series.

As Andrew Flintoff reverse swung through the Australian batting order like a wrecking ball, dressing-room watchers noted that Clarke was as nervous as a cat on hot tin roof. It rubbed off on those around him.

This is something Ponting would never do given his bullish self-belief. For all the death warrants that have been issued for him as batsman and captain it is easily forgotten the hard-edge he imposes.

EDIT: Have also heard from a former grade cricketer close to the Australian side that Clarke and Hughes are quite removed from the group, generally.

 

[benchmark00]

Rubbish article. Way over the top.

This **** happens every day in cricket teams, only an issue when a team is losing.

 

[Nate]

well being a poor limited overs bowler has never stopped the selectors from picking him in ODers if he's in test squad plans ala Siddle and Hilf.

Ah, okay.

 

[pasag]

IMHO, if we selected this team for Sydney we could come close to winning the match:

Hughes
Watson
Khawaja
Clarke
Hussey
Hussey
Haddin
Hauritz
Johnson
Siddle
Bollinger

Not saying it's a better side than England's but I think it'd be our best shot and if everything clicks it could do very well.

 

[Spark]

Which Hussey do you have at 6?

I agree that that is probably our best XI at the present.

 

[Prince EWS]

IMHO, if we selected this team for Sydney we could come close to winning the match:

Hughes
Watson
Khawaja
Clarke
Hussey
Hussey
Haddin
Hauritz
Johnson
Siddle
Bollinger

Not saying it's a better side than England's but I think it'd be our best shot and if everything clicks it could do very well.

If I was going to pick Dave Hussey I'd bat him at four and shuffle Clarke and Mike Hussey down one each, or maybe even just put Clarke straight at six.

Wouldn't mind seeing Khawaja in for Hughes either.

 

[Uppercut]

I think that this is the sticking point with people (both the public and within CA), that it is Clarke who has the job of moulding Test cricketers for our future.

Another example here: Australia wants answers over our future captaincy and the impending series defeat | Herald Sun



EDIT: Have also heard from a former grade cricketer close to the Australian side that Clarke and Hughes are quite removed from the group, generally.

Lol, can't believe they took an example from the Lord's match, given all the Australia games over the past few years where Clarke hasn't batted like a god.

 

[Spark]

Not to mention Flintoff's wonder-spell came while Clarke was at the crease... or after he got out.

In any case didn't Gilly say Clarke is always "petrified" before he comes out to bat?

 

[Burgey]

Not to mention Flintoff's wonder-spell came while Clarke was at the crease... or after he got out.

In any case didn't Gilly say Clarke is always "petrified" before he comes out to bat?

So what? Allan Langer used to vomit owing to nerves before a big game. Won at least four conga, myriad Origins, innumerable MOTM awards and captained Australia.

It's what you do once you're on the field that counts.

 

[Prince EWS]

So what? Allan Langer used to vomit owing to nerves before a big game. Won at least four conga, myriad Origins, innumerable MOTM awards and captained Australia.

Suck on that Uppercut.

 

[Uppercut]

So what? Allan Langer used to vomit owing to nerves before a big game. Won at least four conga, myriad Origins, innumerable MOTM awards and captained Australia.

It's what you do once you're on the field that counts.

That was indeed the point that both of us were making, I think..

But if you're going to claim that someone's sub-standard mindset is a problem you can at least take an example where they perform poorly.

 

[Uppercut]

Suck on that Uppercut.

Took me ages to get why .

 

[Spark]

So what? Allan Langer used to vomit owing to nerves before a big game. Won at least four conga, myriad Origins, innumerable MOTM awards and captained Australia.

It's what you do once you're on the field that counts.

Indeed. Was more pointing out that the article is playing up something rather standard as being out of the ordinary. Beating the dead horse though, think we've pointed out the rubbishness of it enough. The irony of it is amusing though, using as an example a match where Clarke played easily his best innings...

 

[vic_orthdox]

The point is not how Clarke went, but as a future leader how he leads his team. If you are coming into the team, and you watch your leader nervous as anything, not seeming in control of the situation, it's not going to be a positive thing for the team.

 

[Jarquis]

Khawaja to surpass Ponting's run tally for the series

 

[Prince EWS]

Took me ages to get why .

Burgey leads the way in referencing other sports properly - he actually explained it fully instead of just saying "Allan Langer is a good example of why this isn't a problem" and then moving on to something else. WAC you are.

 

[Uppercut]

Always explaining yourself fully isn't always necessary to be one of the best at something, as Patrik Antonius proves.