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Bailey, Clarke or Watson? Australia's selection dilemma

George Bailey should be given another shot in the ODI team. (AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES)
Roar Rookie
19th February, 2015
13

As Australia prepare to take on Bangladesh on Saturday in Brisbane, the selectors are still determining on which XI to play.

Michael Clarke, who has been out injured since the Adelaide Test in December last year, is expected to meet his deadline and return against the Bangladesh.

This should be good news for the Australians, right?

Well if Clarke comes in, who goes? Earlier on in the month it looked like out-of-form George Bailey was the man who will make room for the Aussie skip, although he made a case for himself with a steady 55 off 69 balls including three boundaries.

Bailey made a statement earlier in the week saying he thinks himself that he will be the one to go to make way for Clarke. Although if Bailey is showing signs he could return to form, it will be a difficult decision to drop him.

Shane Watson on the other hand, who has been below his best form for the majority of the summer, could also make way for Clarke. Getting out for a Golden Duck against England in Australia’s World Cup opener could not have come at a worse time for the 33-year-old. There’s a strong chance he could go.

In a team that boasted three serious all rounders in Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh and Watson – plus the injured James Faulkner – the pressure is on Shane Watson. Marsh claimed a fantastic 5’fer and chipped in with a handy 23 runs, which did not help Watson at all.

Watson bowled three overs for zero wickets. Maxwell has shown some good form with the bat in previous games scoring 95 and 66 in his last two innings, and being an allrounder spinner, is likely to be included in most games, (since Xavier Dougherty, the left arm specialty spinner is a rarity to be selected for more then a handful of games) only on wickets that call for a second spinners services. Leaves a less then convincing case for Watson.

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If Bailey’s half century against England was enough to earn him another game, then it looks like Watson is the man to go. Only time will tell.

There are rumours, however, that David Warner has injured his thumb and will be ruled out – which will give Watson a chance.

If Warner doesn’t play, it could see Watson elevated to opening, Clarke in at three. Bailey might be the man to go.

Watson has a career ODI average of 40.27 with the bat. Although his 2014-15 season he has handled only 222 runs in eight games at 27.75, has Watson had one too many chances?

Does he still have time to prove himself? Many people are crossing over his Test form with his ODI form. If he gets selected, he will take on a team against which he scored a giant 185 against in 2011. He averages 87.5 runs against, with 350 runs in five innings. Watson will be looking to reproduce that form if he’s to keep his spot throughout this World Cup.

Many current and former Australian cricketers have come out to back Watson. But he has copped a lot of criticism too. At the end of the day, I personally believe Watson will play on, and it will come down to timing and form when Faulkner is recovered.

There is a possibility that Clarke may not make the deadline, or even be re-injured during the WC? Again, only time will tell.

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Australia’s ideal XI
Warner, Finch, Clarke, Smith, Maxwell, Marsh, Faulkner, Haddin, Johnson, Starc, Hazlewood.

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