This week, we have seen the end off a era in Australian cricket. Ricky Ponting, who was captain of our national team for the past seven years, has resigned from the job, although he wants to carry on as a batsmen.
The man to lead our team into the future will be Micheal Clarke.
To lead Australia into the future, Clarke needs a team for the future.
I think it’s time the selectors bite the bullet and make a tough call on two very good and respected cricketers in Brad Haddin and Simon Katich. Players like Tim Paine should take over the gloves from Haddin, whilst I believe Usman Khawja can open the batting in place of Katich.
Don’t get me wrong, I think Haddin and Katich have been fine players for Australia.
But given we are now entering a new era with Clarke, and considering the players’ age, maybe it would be better for the future of the Australian side for Paine and Khawja to be playing as soon as possible.
Ponting said when he resigned this week that he didn’t want to see mass retirements like we saw with Warne, McGarth, Hayden, Langer, Gilchirst and Martyn all pulling the pin in close succession.
Now, looking at the current Test side, we have players like Ponting (36), Katich (35), Mike Hussey (35) and Haddin (33). We need to be replacing some of these players now to avoid the mass retirements Ponting is worried about.
But young players still need older heads around to help guide them, so I’d leave Ponting and Hussey in the side to provide the experienced players, unfortunately leaving Haddin and Katich as the unlucky players that must make way for the next generation.
Paine has shown in his two Tests in India that he has the talent to play at the highest level, while Khawja is the best young batsmen in the country and didn’t look out of place on his debut in the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney this year.
Just think what these two young players can learn from Ponting and Hussey whilst they are still around. Now is the perfect time to get the young players in to play and learn.
I think new captain Clarke needs a new team. Clarke will want to stamp himself as captain on the team and deserves his own team to do that.
Ponting said now is the perfect time for him to hand over the leadership. I say now is also the perfect time to bring in the future.
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