The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Old cricket heads still crucial to World Cup success

Roar Rookie
2nd September, 2014
Advertisement
Roar Rookie
2nd September, 2014
5

There is a maxim in cricket that when you are out of the side, your stock rises. Your failures are not exposed and your strengths remembered with fondness.

Phil Hughes is one who has benefitted from this many times. Yet the opposite seems to be true for two of Australia’s elderly stars, Michael Clarke and Shane Watson.

I am no Shane Watson fan. His record in ODI cricket, however, is commanding, and like it or not opponents do fear what he brings to the table. That record, however, appears to have been swept aside by a pair of swashbuckling 80s from Mitch Marsh.

I was not surprised that the online world, following the conclusion of Marsh’s 86*, suggested that Watson should be dumped in favour of Marsh. I was surprised that the same suggestion were made on the television commentary. Why is Watson so easily forgotten?

Marsh’s List A record, while promising, has been spotty. We should be energised by his power hitting. We should salivate at the prospect of an all-rounder with his ability. But the suggestion that he, right now, is in a position to replace Watson is ludicrous.

As a point of reference, only five players in ODI history average more than 40 with a strike rate above 90, one of them being Watson. That is rare company, and a production level that should not be discarded for the flavour of the month.

Cue the inevitable injury and inconsistency arguments against Watson. These are arguments which could quite easily apply to Marsh. Australia has no shortage of power hitters in its line-up, but few have the ability to open the innings and actually demonstrate a technique that copes with a moving ball like Watson.

Added to this, Watson sits in the top 10 all-time wicket takers for Australia. Fairly handy. Again, this does not diminish the achievements of Marsh, merely that Watson is an extremely valuable member of Australia’s ODI side

Advertisement

The Michael Clarke conundrum is an interesting one. Those favouring his axing base their argument on his strike rate, which admittedly is sluggish for a top order batsman in this day and age. Similarly, Clarke’s detractors suggest that George Bailey, whose batting and captaincy skills have been known to those south of the Bass Strait for years, is tactically adept enough to lead the side. Those points are valid, but not enough to force Clarke from the team.

Australia still does not have a permanent ODI number three, a post that Clarke could fill, although it is likely that selectors will go for a more attacking option. However, he is a necessity in that top order based on the quality of his technique. In the event of two quick wickets (as a result of a swinging ball, the main weapon in the upcoming World Cup), Clarke has the technique to handle a moving ball and score conventionally at a reasonable rate.

Bailey, Steven Smith, Marsh or even Glenn Maxwell, the other candidates in the middle order, may have the ability to survive or score against a moving delivery in ODI cricket, but cannot do both. Bailey, Marsh and Maxwell are patchy against a moving ball, whereas Smith’s technique for coping with deliveries moving away from him is to generally leave or defend.

Clarke’s ability against the spinning ball is another tick in the for column. He does have the ability to move through the gears in an innings, in contrast to Maxwell or Marsh (who is in either first or fifth). As noted, however, his all-out attack cannot match the hitting power of the other middle order contenders.

The final thing that Clarke brings to the table sounds simple, but should not be underestimated. Experience. Clarke knows what it’s like to play in a World Cup-winning team. Opponents may write that off as nonsense, but knowing exactly what it takes is a valuable asset in a World Cup. Those scoffing at the suggestion would do well to remember the clamour for Brad Haddin to return to the Australian side for the sake of having an old head.

As a final point, even though Clarke does not see himself as having a long-term future in Test cricket, quitting ODIs will diminish his returns in the Test arena. There are often large gaps between Test series, and some older players need a constant (but not grinding) exposure to international-class opposition to stay sharp. See the decline of Ricky Ponting post his ODI career ending.

World Cups are the time for seasoned veterans, who know for the most part what to do and when to do it. No one is denying the ability of Mitch Marsh and other younger players, who will be a part of Australia’s future. We should be excited about what they are doing at the moment. Just don’t discount experience for the sake of a few ODIs in September.

Advertisement
close