Our next Test captain is not in the current team
Roar Pro By Junior, 6 Feb 2009 Junior is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Allan Border, Australian Cricket, Cameron White, Cricket, Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh, Simon Katich, Steve Waugh
Ricky Ponting is 34 years old. He probably has no more than five years left at the top level. The captaincy seems to be his as long as he wants it. But then what?
Michael “Pup” Clarke, I hear you say.
Let’s assess his pros and cons:
Pros
* from NSW
* a competent, though flashy batsman
* the current vice captain
* about the right age
Cons
* one of his cricket (and life) mentors is Shane Warne
* immature and unlikely to change
* one of his cricket (and life) mentors is Shane Warne
* prone to powder at crucial moments
* one of his cricket (and life) mentors is Shane Warne
* off field profile is too similar to Lleyton Hewitt
* one of his cricket (and life) mentors is Shane Warne
* he believes and behaves like he is destined to be captain
* one of his cricket (and life) mentors is Shane Warne
* talks about himself in the third person
Unfortunately, this is not the pedigree of a successful Test captain.
Allan Border, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh were all statesmen of the game who commanded respect through their behaviour both on and off the field. While Ricky Ponting can sometimes divide opinion, given more time, he too may assume cricket royalty status.
Michael Clarke doesn’t have the same appeal.
At the presentation of the Allan Border Medal earlier this week, only one of the four people on the stage appeared to be out of his depth and only too pleased to be there. And it wasn’t that talentless uber smooth jibberer from Channel Nine.
So who do we turn to?
Bowlers and keepers have enough on their plate so we can rule them out. Of the current set up, the two obvious candidates are Michael Hussey and Simon Katich. With both of them less than a year younger than the incumbent, they are probably not realistic long-term options.
That leaves us with the likely prospect that the next Test captain is currently an outstanding Shield batsman who is no older than about 28 now. If he has experience captaining his State by the time Ponting retires, then his stocks will rise further.
Some players that may fit that profile include Cameron White, Shaun Marsh, Michael Klinger, Callum Ferguson and Phillip Hughes. Even Shane Watson could be considered, as long as he doesn’t dislocate a shoulder pushing aside the shower curtain or bump his head on the wind chimes.
No doubt some of these names will cause a furrowed brow or two.
After all, they only have twelve Test caps between them and who knows how many more they will have won by the time the next skipper is required.
While it is not obvious now, in all likelihood somebody will emerge from the pack and move seamlessly into the role. What is more obvious, however, is that Michael “Pup” Clarke should stay firmly in the pack.
Recommend this story.
February 6th 2009 @ 11:31am
Hoy said | February 6th 2009 @ 11:31am | Report comment
I was never a big fan of Katich, but by jeez he has risen in my standings today.
Clarke is all show. It is not the right time to be a smug little shit right now with the team struggling.
There is almost no doubt in my mind that he will be the next captain, but that is annoying in itself. Show me his cricketting brain! He has captained a few one dayers and won a few one dayers. Big deal.
He really strikes me as someone who can push through the hard yards to get a starting 50, into the 60′s maybe 70′s then out. Can’t really grind. It was almost like he kept getting bored this summer with his batting.
We don’t need a poor man’s Becks captaining Australian Cricket. That is for sure.
February 7th 2009 @ 1:54am
Spanner said | February 7th 2009 @ 1:54am | Report comment
Clarke has become a show pony and a politian. He comes across as a try hard when the camera comes in his face. I have to turn away. He will get the job though but is prone to injury so the question is who will be the stand in?
February 7th 2009 @ 7:58am
Chaos said | February 7th 2009 @ 7:58am | Report comment
Shane Warne as a cricketing brain is a great assest. Ignore his off-field incidents and just look as him as a captain. In english county, for Victoria and in the 20/20 competition in India. If ‘pup’ or anyone could take his cricket brain only, leave the bogan trait alone, there lies a majestic captain.
Warnie thought outside the box with field placings and other things when things weren’t working, something Ponting never does till loo late. Trusted his bowlers with attacking fields. I.e spinners tended to have a few more fielders in catching positions. This list goes on.
Other people. White as Captain is a possibility only as he guides Victoria brilliantly, but sadly he can’t bowl or bat! He should never play test cricket again. He does get consulted by Ponting in the ODI’s and 20/20 if anyone noticed. Katich, Hussey are too old and of the two I think Katich would be a better captain.
You need to find a cricket prodigy who is 20-25 years old, has a brain, great with the media and willing to inject youth into the squad. Must be willing to lose in the short term, to win in the long term. There is the next Captain of Australia. Any takers?
February 9th 2009 @ 8:43am
LeftArmSpinner said | February 9th 2009 @ 8:43am | Report comment
its more than just a cricketing brain. its about leadership, its about diplomacy. Its about building a culture and a growing entity where egos do not come first. Selflessness.