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[Manormanic]

I admire his captaincy because he plays to win... He declares at the right time so that the opposition think they can still win... And if they are god enough they can... He doesn't get 600 or 700 run leads only for the opposition to block the match to a draw... And he is such a relaxed captain and has improved his batting average since taking over the captaincy

I have to say he has impressed me greatly as skipper - he seems to be one of those blokes who takes to teh job quite naturally and is not fazed by it; perhaps the ego that all of those senior Australian players disliked when he was a kid is pandered to by the responsibility.  Either way, yes, he plays the game the right way and seems keen to make things happen, which is how I like to see the game played.

[Manormanic]

I don't think he should move from five, for me. his is an exhausting job and the recovery time between fielding and having to strap on the Mums and Dads is important.

Sorry mate, don't agree with that; plenty of skippers have opened successfully, which is the extreme example of no recovery time.

Yes, if he was playing in a great line up he could dictate where he bats. But he isn't - Warner, Cowan, Hughes is a potentially fallible top three, Watson should be at six and whoever they bring in (Khawaja?) will need time to get used to Test cricket.  He should lead from the front and say "look guys, I'd prefer to bat five but the team needs me to bat higher..."

[cheese]

What will their ashes team look like now?
Warner
Cowan
Hughes
Watson
Clarke (c)
Khawaja/Quiney
Wade (wk)
Siddle
Hilfenhaus/Pattinson
Johnson/Cummins/Starc
Lyon
Lots of pace options but lack in the spin department and the guy who replaces Hussey will have large boots to fill.

[Manormanic]

A ton of pace options - remember Bird, Hazlewood etc are missing from the above.

But one spinner who doesn't turn the ball and may well be supplanted by Maxwell shortly.

And four out of six batsmen, minimum, with question marks over them...

And thats before India...

[The_Bird]

You could argue that Clarke should take responsibility and bat at 4 but he obviously has no confidence in the top order or the players around him. Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting both started their careers batting in the lower middle order and at the right time moved up when they were the senior players and had to lead by example. If at 32 Clarke doesn't do it now he never will. That saying his captaincy is superb when he is ahead of the game but hopefully he will be tested in the back to back Ashes series.

[Chad]

It came a shock to myself when I read about this! The man has been on form! After reading the article though, I can understand that he has a family to take care of and spend time with. I find it pretty hard to believe he is 37 now, as he started playing for Australia around the time I started cricket! It will be nice to see him retire on a high rather than when his form dips.

[Mortimer]

Better game lol

No, dumbed down game so that Aussies and Yorkshiremen can understand it!

[The_Bird]

The fact that in England the game is pretty much played between clubs from two counties says alot for its following over here, not saying it isn't popular just no where near the exposure of the other form.

[Manormanic]

The fact that in England the game is pretty much played between clubs from two counties says alot for its following over here, not saying it isn't popular just no where near the exposure of the other form.

I've always thought of League as a game played by people who don't/can't understand Union - its exciting enough to watch live, but there is no great craft to it.

[procricket]

Nick Maddinson should be given a crack

But he has not got the stats to back that up.

Has anybody i mean Cowans hardly has high stock.

A shortage i may say they brought back Hughes who i suspect will get found out again when the call climbs on him

[Number4]

Nick Maddinson should be given a crack

But he has not got the stats to back that up.

Has anybody i mean Cowans hardly has high stock.

A shortage i may say they brought back Hughes who i suspect will get found out again when the call climbs on him

Maybe Doolan in there somewhere

[procricket]

i know it only runs scored but nobody speaks pick me do they

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=7544;type=tournament

Aye your right about Doolan

[procricket]

I think currently only Clarke would get into the English side at present playing for Australia

[The_Bird]

What has Callum Ferguson done wrong? He looks better than Quiney and more experienced than Khawaja and in form and more importantly he's not injured or carrying a niggle.

[procricket]

inability to score 100's.