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Michael Clarke should move up the order or quit ODIs

Steven Kellett new author
Roar Rookie
27th March, 2015
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Michael Clarke (AFP PHOTO / MOHAMMAD FAROOQ)
Steven Kellett new author
Roar Rookie
27th March, 2015
36

In the early to mid-nineties, when power plays were first introduced to one day cricket, opening batsmen Sanath Jayasuriya took Sri Lanka to victory in the 1996 World Cup by his dashing, hitting-over-the-top-of-the-infield style in the first power play.

This changed the way ODIs were played. Before this, a slow and steady build up to a score of 220 to 250 was par.

Jayasuriya’s style has been the norm for international teams since, with the likes of Adam Gilchrist and Sachin Tendulkar opening the batting in ODIs.

Since the introduction of the new rules of two new balls, batting power play changes, and fewer fieldsmen outside the circle, the ODI game has changed again considerably.

Now Australia plans to be around one or two wickets down for 180 to 200 at the 35th over and start of the batting power play. One of the top three batsmen is expected to score a hundred by the 35th over at a strike rate of about a run a ball.

Then, with wickets in hand, the big hitters come in and aim for around 150 runs in the last 15 overs in a T20-style slog fest. With most of the fielders in the circle and the two new balls staying harder for longer this is achievable.

Yet teams are still being selected with the old rules in mind – hard-hitting opening batsmen hitting over the top in the first 10-over power play, but the two new balls are now swinging for the first six or so overs and a more steady approach is now required during this period to preserve wickets for the onslaught in the last 15 overs.

So why are we still selecting the big hitting David Warner and Aaron Finch to open? And why is Michael Clarke left to come in around the 35th over when the big hitting starts.

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Why is he in the side at all?

Surely we need batsmen to open in a more traditional, Test-type opening role to see off the two new swinging balls. OK Warner is our Test opener, so he can stay ODI opener, but I would move Shane Watson back to opener and cement Steve Smith at three for the next decade.

Clarke at four is the worry. Twice in this World Cup Clarke has promoted Glenn Maxwell in front of himself when the run rate needed to be lifted, which means even he acknowledges that he does not have the firepower in the last 15 overs to score at 10 an over. The only time Clarke should be at four is if there have been a couple of early wickets and he is needed to steady the ship.

If everything goes to plan and Australia are only one or two down for 200 at the 35th over, then he is not needed at all – all the big hitters are yet to come, especially if you move Watson back to opener and put Finch at five.

We would have been better off sticking with George Bailey as captain as he is more adaptable batting at four. He could steady the ship if we lose a couple of early wickets, but is also capable of scoring at 10 an over if needed in the batting power play. If you compare Michael Clarke’s ODI and T20 strike rates with Bailey’s you will see my point. Clarke’s career strike rates are 78 and 103 respectively, compared to Bailey’s 86 and 140.

Clarke is a great Test batsman, but he is just not capable of the power hitting now required of middle-order ODI batsmen. If Clarke wants to keep playing ODI cricket he needs to put himself in the top three where a slow and steady run-a-ball 100 is OK.

My XI for the final
David Warner
Shane Watson
Steve Smith
George Bailey
Aaron Finch
Glenn Maxwell
James Faulkner
Brad Haddin
Mitchell Johnson
Mitchell Starc
Josh Hazlewood

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