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.
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
No need for Katich to retire ; he's doing a great job, and would have made a huge difference in the recent series if he had not been injured. In fact, there is a strong argument for leaving him there to take over the captaincy that he should have had when Ponting stood down anyway. Ponting's "half-retirement" was not good enough. He should have been dropped, and Clarke with him. Now that Clarke has the captaincy, he probably has it for a while, but no players are obvious substitutes for Katich.
jameswm
Guest
I think Fairy's on the money...
Trev
Guest
Smith is currently at 6 but I'd perfer to see Ferguson given a go.
Fairy
Guest
Usi should be at 3 behind the Kat. Pointing at 6. Paine should be VC with the view of being the next captain. Haddin to pasture... -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Lolly
Guest
This is exactly what I think. And who will there be for the older players to mentor if none of them retire? Maybe he knows something we don't and that Kat is ready to retire.
Searly
Guest
Katich should stay because there are no decent alternatives (and I'm a closet Katich fan anyway...) but I'd be happy to see Paine in the team, at the very least for the ODIs.
KSI
Guest
As long as they are still the best they should be in the team. Haddin and Katich had good summers. No need to drop them because the are getting on.
Matt F
Guest
this is the one thing that struck me as odd at pontings press conference on tuesday. he said he wanted to play on to prevent a situation like the 07 ashes where we lost 3 great players at once (4 if you include martyn going half-way though the series) then gilchrist the next year. it's an admirable point but given none of them have given any indications they are ready to retire, and given their similar ages, if they all play on they will still end up retiring at the same time. it will just be in a year or two rather then now. surely if we really want to avoid it happening again we need to move 1 or 2 of them on now.
jamesb
Guest
trev if Khawaja moves to the opening position, it leaves a vacent spot in the batting order S.Watson U.Khawaja R.Ponting M.Clarke M.Hussey TBA T.Paine which batsman would you put in?
Trev
Guest
Paine played 4 Test*