New Australian Leadership

[Hazbeen]

Micheal Clarke appointed Captain of the Test and One Day teams, Shane Watson has been appointed as Vice Captain of both teams as well.

Watson?

[Lightning McQueen]

Micheal Clarke appointed Captain of the Test and One Day teams, Shane Watson has been appointed as Vice Captain of both teams as well.

Watson?

2 years ago, no way. He's the most improved all-round cricketer in Australia atm. When I say "all-round" I mean ability, attitude, sportsmanship and most other facets that we want from a national sporting captain.

[overloaded]

Clarke?

not up to it.....

enjoy the slippery dip ride boys!

[CoverKing]

I'm happy with the appointments. I think Clarke will be good captain of Australia. I like how he is aggressive, backs his bowlers (especially the younger fellas) and continues to fight to the end. I just hope his form picks up because he has been struggling in the test arena big time

[woodublieve12]

[CoverKing]

Let's hope he gets more support than the one test he captained at the SCG

[Q.]

I'm happy with the appointments. I think Clarke will be good captain of Australia. I like how he is aggressive, backs his bowlers (especially the younger fellas) and continues to fight to the end. I just hope his form picks up because he has been struggling in the test arena big time

Agree. Was impressed when he took over from Ponting for the ODI series against England. I have been a harsh critic of him, especially regarding his glamour-boy demeanour and seeming lack of heart while batting, but I think that he is well past most of that and the captaincy will certainly bring the best out of him. Hopefully this also translates into form and consistency while batting out in the middle.

[CoverKing]

I'm happy with the appointments. I think Clarke will be good captain of Australia. I like how he is aggressive, backs his bowlers (especially the younger fellas) and continues to fight to the end. I just hope his form picks up because he has been struggling in the test arena big time

Agree. Was impressed when he took over from Ponting for the ODI series against England. I have been a harsh critic of him, especially regarding his glamour-boy demeanour and seeming lack of heart while batting, but I think that he is well past most of that and the captaincy will certainly bring the best out of him. Hopefully this also translates into form and consistency while batting out in the middle.

Well said mate.

Also well done to Watson, he has come along way since he was probably the most hated australian cricketer for some time. His injuries are gone, his form is world class, and his attitude has improved big time. Good appointments IMO

[Pag]

I'm a big fan of the way Clarke has captained previously, his field placings are generally pretty aggressive and he likes to back the bowler in to take wickets. I think Warne has had a big influence in the way he's gone about it. The issue I have is his batting holding up, can't carry him forever if his personal form is no good. If he makes runs, then there's no issue of course.

Not sure about Watson as vice-captain, very good cricketer but doesn't strike me as a leader at all. Then again, there's not many other options either.

[hawks21]

Clarke?

not up to it.....

enjoy the slippery dip ride boys!

Who else should captian the side then?

[interested observer]

Clarke?

not up to it.....

enjoy the slippery dip ride boys!

Who else should captian the side then?

Take a punt and do what Sth Africa did years ago with a very young Graeme Smith...
Tim Paine for me.....
It's all about rebuilding for Australia now...
Let a young team grow and develop together..

[Adelaide Hawk]

Clarke?

not up to it.....

enjoy the slippery dip ride boys!

Who else should captian the side then?

Take a punt and do what Sth Africa did years ago with a very young Graeme Smith...
Tim Paine for me.....
It's all about rebuilding for Australia now...
Let a young team grow and develop together..

... and then they all retire together, like happened this time, and we're back to the drawing board.

[Lightning McQueen]

Take a punt and do what Sth Africa did years ago with a very young Graeme Smith...
Tim Paine for me.....
It's all about rebuilding for Australia now...
Let a young team grow and develop together..

Paine has to find a spot in the test side first at least.

[OnSong]

Peaks and troughs happen in sport. The most successful eras (IMO) are when you get a great core of players who play together for a sustained period.
Continuity is important in the trough stages, but I would rather a few years rebuilding followed by a sustained peak than a roller coaster highlighted from being third or fourth in the world at stages.

[Hazbeen]

I'm a big fan of the way Clarke has captained previously, his field placings are generally pretty aggressive and he likes to back the bowler in to take wickets. I think Warne has had a big influence in the way he's gone about it. The issue I have is his batting holding up, can't carry him forever if his personal form is no good. If he makes runs, then there's no issue of course.

Not sure about Watson as vice-captain, very good cricketer but doesn't strike me as a leader at all. Then again, there's not many other options either.

With Watto handed the VC job does that mean Haddin is no longer guarenteed a spot, would of thought he might of got the job for the Test's at least

[interested observer]

Clarke?

not up to it.....

enjoy the slippery dip ride boys!

Who else should captian the side then?

Take a punt and do what Sth Africa did years ago with a very young Graeme Smith...
Tim Paine for me.....
It's all about rebuilding for Australia now...
Let a young team grow and develop together..

... and then they all retire together, like happened this time, and we're back to the drawing board.

Got another 10 years to get it right this time....
That's if the ACB have learned anything at all.....

[interested observer]

Take a punt and do what Sth Africa did years ago with a very young Graeme Smith...
Tim Paine for me.....
It's all about rebuilding for Australia now...
Let a young team grow and develop together..

Paine has to find a spot in the test side first at least.

Paine v Haddin...
Not much between them in my opinion...
Paine certainly a better gloveman and his batting can be as destructive....

[Adelaide Hawk]

Got another 10 years to get it right this time....
That's if the ACB have learned anything at all.....

I sometimes wonder about the emphasis on player development in cricket. Sure, you can fine tune a talent and bring out the best in a player, but you cannot put something into a player that is not there. In other words, most of the ability of players such as Warne and Gilchrist in particular is natural, not manufactured.

When the West Indies dominated world cricket, it was said that whenever they needed another quick bowler they could just shake a tree and one would fall out. That's how it seemed, but it was closer to the mark than most realise. Truth is, they just had a lot of world quality quick bowlers around at the time ... they don't now.

Australian cricket 10 years ago had it right, the academy, player development years ahead of the rest, but we also had a 2nd XI that could defeat most other Test teams due to the sheer weight of world quality players in the Aussie system at the time.

That depth no longer exists because we haven't had a natural like Warne or Gilchrist ... or even a Lehmann come through the system. We have a lot of good cricketers at first class level, but average players at elite level. I don't think any amount of planning and coaching can alter that.

I also think the introduction and emphasis on 20/20 cricket has upset the Australian applecart more than people realise.

[The Sleeping Giant]

Chappell, Hilditch and Clarke. God help us.

[cripple]

obvious call which means it was a good call. the only other realistic possibility was watson and we saw with freddy flintoff that good all rounders would struggle to be a good captain in the modern game.