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If Clarke is fit, drop Bailey for the Cricket World Cup

23rd January, 2015
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George Bailey will lead the Tigers out today (AFP PHOTO/PUNIT PARANJPE)
Expert
23rd January, 2015
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Glenn Maxwell has been buffeted by criticism as a result of his poor batting in ODIs the past nine months. Yet stand-in skipper George Bailey is arguably the bigger liability at the moment.

Maxwell’s last 11 ODIs have seen him return just 177 runs at 16 and have been blighted by a series of maddeningly irresponsible dismissals.

He has, however, been in fine touch with the ball, snaring 12 wickets at 25 over that period, including seven wickets at 23 across six matches against South Africa, who have arguably the world’s best batting line-up.

If Maxwell’s bowling is the only thing keeping him in the side then the same must be said about George Bailey and his captaincy.

As a middle order batsman Bailey has been mired in a deep trough for 15 months now. If he was as divisive a character as Maxwell he’d be getting pilloried in the press and by fans the way the ‘Big Show’ has been for months.

But Bailey has somehow escaped heavy scrutiny for his lengthy period of underperformance.

On October 30, 2013, he obliterated India’s attack at Nagpur, clouting 156 from 114 balls. In doing so he not just confirmed himself as one of the best ODI batsman on the planet but also effectively earned himself a Test debut in the Ashes.

To that point in his 50-over career, he had amassed 1535 runs at 57. He was more than just a destructive force, having also reconstructed subsiding Australian innings on numerous occasions.

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But since that extraordinary innings at Nagpur, Bailey has floundered with the blade in ODIs, making just 425 runs at 22. He entered this summer needing to regain touch after several poor series. An energetic innings of 70 from 75 balls in the first ODI against South Africa was an encouraging sign,

It was a false dawn, however, with Bailey’s form dipping further as he returned 72 runs at 12 from his past six ODIs. Even in this summer’s domestic ODIs he struggled, with just 53 runs from three innings for Tasmania.

Despite this significant form slump, Bailey’s position in the side could be all but guaranteed throughout the World Cup, regardless of how poorly he bats.

If regular skipper Michael Clarke cannot prove his fitness and has to withdraw, Bailey will be the World Cup skipper. Australia would then be loathe to sack him for Steve Smith in the middle of the tournament if he continues to fail with the bat.

The selectors have made a big gamble on Bailey finally regaining form. If it doesn’t come off it could cost Australia the World Cup. Should Clarke pass the required fitness tests he should replace Bailey not just as captain but also in the XI. Not only is Clarke a superior skipper but he is also a more consistent ODI batsman.

With nearly 8000 runs at 45 in ODIs, Clarke has the second highest average among the 30 top run scorers in history. Despite his regular injury-forced absences from the side the past two years, he has been solid, averaging 41 from his past 20 ODIs.

Clarke’s strike rate of 80 during that period is low for a modern day batsman. But Australia have no shortage of explosive, fast scoring players, so they can easily accommodate an accumulator like Clarke, should he prove to be in good health.

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He also has an extraordinary record in World Cups, with 669 runs at 84 from his 18 matches in the tournaments.

Australia have a wrecking ball of a pace attack and a potent top order. It is in the middle where they look weak.

Bailey is a cause of that problem, even if all the heat is on Maxwell. Right now, Australia desperately need Clarke to be fit for the World Cup because his stand-in is labouring.

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