What? No Hughes, Clark and Bracken in T20 squad?
Columnist By Kersi Meher-Homji, 17 Aug 2009 Kersi Meher-Homji is a Roar Expert
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- Australian Cricket, Cricket, ODI, Twenty20
Australian batsman David Warner strikes the third of his 6's against South Africa during the KFC Twenty/20 match at the MCG in Melbourne, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009. (AAP Image/Joe Castro)
All eyes and ears are now on the Ashes-deciding final Test at The Oval starting on Thursday. But the squads for the Limited-Overs Internationals have sprung some surprises.
One is the omission of Phil Hughes and Stuart Clark from both Twenty20 and Fifty50 squads, and of Nathan Bracken from the Twenty20 squad.
It is difficult to fathom the selectors’ minds.
Opening batsman Hughes is tailor-made for Limited-Overs Internationals, with his effusive and aggressive batting. If experts thought that bouncers were his undoing at Test level, few are allowed in the shorter form of the game.
And who will open the batting for Australia? Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin in Fifty50 and Clarke and David Warner in Twenty20?
Why risk Clarke as an opener when Hughes has more experience?
On current form, Michael Clarke is the most consistent batsman.
At no.3 or 4, he can control the game much better, pushing the accelerator pedal once there are runs on the board. Besides, he will have his hands and mind full, captaining Australia in Twenty20s.
Now to the other Clark, the one without ‘e’ at the end, the one who bowls almost as economically as Glenn McGrath.
Stuart Clark is excluded from both the squads.
More astonishing is the non-selection of the tall, economical Nathan Bracken from the Twenty20 squad. (Fortunately he is in the Fifty50 squad). But his line and length would have been ideal at Twenty20 level as well.
In 19 Twenty20 Internationals, Bracken has taken 19 wickets at 23.05 (best 3-11) and captured 2-9 in 3 overs in his debut against South Africa at Brisbane in January 2006.
In 2008 he was ranked the No. 1 ODI player in the world.
He will be an asset at Fifty50 level but will be missed in the Twenty20 slogathons.
The inclusions of tearaway fast bowler Brett Lee, and of spinner Nathan Hauritz, at the expense of Clark and Bracken, is surprising. Cameron White is already in the squad, who can spin the ball and smash it with his brute force.
But for these surprises, the selectors have chosen wisely.
The inclusion of the talented Callum Ferguson will be welcomed by all those who have seen this youngster blossom in the last year.
The Twenty20 internationals will be played on 30 August and 1 September, both at Old Trafford, Manchester.
The Australian Twenty20 squad: Michael Clarke (captain) NSW, Brad Haddin (vice-captain and wicket-keeper) NSW, Callum Ferguson SA, Nathan Hauritz NSW, Ben Hilfenhaus Tas, David Hussey Vic, Mitchell Johnson WA, Brett Lee NSW, Dirk Nannes Vic, Adam Voges WA, David Warner NSW, Shane Watson Qld, Cameron White Vic.
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August 19th 2009 @ 10:37am
Greg Russell said | August 19th 2009 @ 10:37am | Report comment
There was a T20I at the SCG earlier this year. To win, NZ needed something like 19 runs off 18 balls with 7 wickets in hand. Bracken bowled 2 of these 3 overs; miraculously, Australia won. How could the selectors possibly have forgotten Bracken’s bowling that night? It beggars belief that he has been dropped from the T20 squad.
August 19th 2009 @ 12:24pm
Kersi Meher-Homji said | August 19th 2009 @ 12:24pm | Report comment
Yes, Greg, I remember the SCG Twenty20 thriller between Australia and NZ on 15th February 2009.
Bracken bowling the 20th over had figures 3-1-6-0 then. NZ needed 14 to win off the final over. There was a run out off the first ball, then a leg bye and a leg bye. 12 runs needed off 2 balls and NL McCullum hit a 4 and a 6 but lost by one run. Bracken finished with 4-1-16-0.
What I remember more about the match was the acrobatic catch Voges took on the boundary line to dismiss Brendon McCullum. Let’s hope he takes more such catches in England in August-September.