*Official* Match 40 - Australia v Pakistan

[Furball]

AWTA. Let him do his job in peace until the WC is finished, then he can hand over the reins of the ODI team to a long-term successor (probably Clarke). In Tests, he should keep the captaincy for at least one more series, and should be given at least until the next Australian summer to prove whether he still has it with the bat, IMO.

I think Australia's next Test series is in SL and that will be a tough assignment. The decision on the Test captaincy should depend on whether he can get a creditable result (a series draw or better).

Massively DWTA.

Clarke is both the annointed successor and the current incumbent Test captain. I really don't see the point in taking the captaincy back from Clarke and giving it back to Ponting, only to hand it back to him in a year or so's time.

Particularly given that Hussey, Katich and Ponting himself might only have a year or two left at Test level (and Haddin's not that far behind) - surely in terms of the transition that's going to bring, it would be better for Clarke to get as much experience behind him as possible before half the batting order gets re-jigged?

 

[Spark]

The Test captaincy is an enormous can of worms, giving Clarke the captaincy for that one Test has just confused the whole situation IMO. It would have been infinitely simpler to give it to a genuine stand-in like Haddin rather than have this confusing business about whether it's temporary or whether it's an anointing despite the protestations of all involved. Especially now that Clarke has well and truly hammered any concerns over form for the time being by averaging something ludicrous in this WC (despite the fact that Test and ODI form do not necessarily carry over).

 

[Furball]

The Test captaincy is an enormous can of worms, giving Clarke the captaincy for that one Test has just confused the whole situation IMO. It would have been infinitely simpler to give it to a genuine stand-in like Haddin rather than have this confusing business about whether it's temporary or whether it's an anointing despite the protestations of all involved. Especially now that Clarke has well and truly hammered any concerns over form for the time being by averaging something ludicrous in this WC (despite the fact that Test and ODI form do not necessarily carry over).

Is presiding over a 3rd Ashes defeat in 4 series and the first home defeat in 24 years really something an Australian captain should be surviving though?

Clarke IMO should be made Test captain permanently.

 

[Spark]

Well so do I, but that's more to do with the fact that I think Ponting will offer more to the team if he just concentrates on his batting, and let the far tactically more astute Clarke do his thing (whist providing assistance, as Clarke has more than a few rough edges when it comes to Test captaincy if his first attempt is any indication). It's not as if the things pup11 mentioned - his inspiring presence and experience etc. will be lost on the team if he plays purely as a specialist bat.

 

[pup11]

The thing with Ponting and most great players is that most of the people (media & ex-players) want to see them perish and fade away and often reasoning and stuff like that goes out of the window.

Most guys want to see Ponting go but where is his replacement..!? Khawaja looked good but did he really do enough on his test debut to suggest that he is the man to put an end to Ponting's career?

We still need to find a steady opening pair, group of fast bowlers, a decent spinner and guys who can score some runs at #4 and #6 and most importantly do we have really have anyone to take up captaincy reins from Ponting..?

If all these problems are gonna get resolved by just showing Ponting the door, then we should do that ASAP...!!

Ponting of course needs to score runs and he himself realises that but his leadership skills are going to be vital in our effort to rebuild the side pretty much from scratch.

 

[pup11]

Well so do I, but that's more to do with the fact that I think Ponting will offer more to the team if he just concentrates on his batting, and let the far tactically more astute Clarke do his thing (whist providing assistance, as Clarke has more than a few rough edges when it comes to Test captaincy if his first attempt is any indication). It's not as if the things pup11 mentioned - his inspiring presence and experience etc. will be lost on the team if he plays purely as a specialist bat.

Clarke just isn't captaincy material and I think that is something that's become pretty obvious in the last 12 to 18 months, as a player he is pretty much struggling to hold onto his place and he also clearly lacks the resilience and toughness to lead the Australian side.

In a way to lead any team you need to be slightly thick-skinned but again Clarke is sort of an individual who seems to let all the nonsense that gets said about him effect him pretty easily and having a bloke like him leading the Australian side is a recipe for disaster.

 

[Spark]

Well on that point I will just have to agree to vigorously disagree.

 

[smash84]

Tait was very poor.. but Johnson was beating Akmal's bat quite a few times with his awkward angle, and got the wicket of Shafiq.

Thought Krejza also bowled very well, without much luck.

agreed. Tait looked quite ordinary yesterday. I have always thought that express bowlers don't trouble Pakistan too much (that might be due to the fact that we have plenty of those in pakistan to practice against) but those nagging line and length bowlers can spell doom for our whole batting line up.

The thing with Ponting and most great players is that most of the people (media & ex-players) want to see them perish and fade away and often reasoning and stuff like that goes out of the window.

Most guys want to see Ponting go but where is his replacement..!? Khawaja looked good but did he really do enough on his test debut to suggest that he is the man to put an end to Ponting's career?

We still need to find a steady opening pair, group of fast bowlers, a decent spinner and guys who can score some runs at #4 and #6 and most importantly do we have really have anyone to take up captaincy reins from Ponting..?

If all these problems are gonna get resolved by just showing Ponting the door, then we should do that ASAP...!!

Ponting of course needs to score runs and he himself realises that but his leadership skills are going to be vital in our effort to rebuild the side pretty much from scratch.

Clarke just isn't captaincy material and I think that is something that's become pretty obvious in the last 12 to 18 months, as a player he is pretty much struggling to hold onto his place and he also clearly lacks the resilience and toughness to lead the Australian side.

In a way to lead any team you need to be slightly thick-skinned but again Clarke is sort of an individual who seems to let all the nonsense that gets said about him effect him pretty easily and having a bloke like him leading the Australian side is a recipe for disaster.

quality posts both of these from pup11

 

[pup11]

Well on that point I will just have to agree to vigorously disagree.

Australian captains certainly don't go around defending themselves on twitter regarding everything that's written about them in some tabloid.

 

[social]

Australian captains certainly don't go around defending themselves on twitter regarding everything that's written about them in some tabloid.

But they are expected to perform and losing series after series whilst being in the worst form of his career should mean that it's all over

 

[Furball]

Clarke just isn't captaincy material and I think that is something that's become pretty obvious in the last 12 to 18 months, as a player he is pretty much struggling to hold onto his place and he also clearly lacks the resilience and toughness to lead the Australian side.

In a way to lead any team you need to be slightly thick-skinned but again Clarke is sort of an individual who seems to let all the nonsense that gets said about him effect him pretty easily and having a bloke like him leading the Australian side is a recipe for disaster.

wat

By some distance Australia's best ODI batsman over the past 12 months.

Ok, his last 6 months in Test cricket haven't been particularly flash, but he should have more than enough credit in the bank from 3 years of excellence prior to his horror run.

 

[Spark]

I don't know about some distance. There is this bloke called Shane Watson who's been pretty good as well - Clarke tends to have a much higher average than you expect because once set, he doesn't get out very easily. At all. So he racks up the not outs like crazy.

But yeah probably equal with Watson.

 

[Nate]

Loving the advice from all the Indian and English fans.

 

[Spark]

I guess they're repaying two decades' worth in the other direction. The English, that is.

 

[Nate]

I just think it's funny how some people think they're an expert on everything. I admire the wise ones who hold their tongue on issues they know little about.

That and it appears the Australian fans are giving up. Which is sorta good, sorta bad.

 

[Spark]

It's odd. I assume that (despite yet another inept display from the Indian lower middle order) we play India, and I have never seen a more pessimistic collection of fans in context.

But I'm not about to argue with you about Clarke

 

[Nate]

 

[Spark]

Selection panel containing both of us would be hilariously dysfunctional. Would be fine... up until the last sticking point.

 

[marc71178]

Heath's streak has ended

Need to update your signature there.

 

[qarishahg]

i'd rather Paksitan face India in the semis, not just for the epic rivalry but i'd be very scared facing the Aussies, they don't take defeat lighty.

Pontings face said it all