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Australian cricket's leadership void

Roar Rookie
22nd April, 2013
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Roar Rookie
22nd April, 2013
8

Australian cricket faces a leadership crisis like never before.

After a period of being spoiled for choice in the leadership stakes, the resignation of Shane Watson as vice-captain highlights just how bare the leadership cupboard is for Australia.

No obvious candidates for Watson’s replacement stand out, with many of the players in contention seemingly yet to cement their spots in the side.

Wicket-keeper Mathew Wade took the captaincy in an early tour match of a weakened Australian side in India and was vice-captain in the last Test match when Watson took the lead after Michael Clarke missed it through injury.

But Wade’s form with the gloves has been scratchy and he has players like Brad Haddin and Tim Paine breathing down his neck for his spot. Both could also lay claim to a leadership role, especially the more experienced Haddin.

The other stand out is opening batsman Dave Warner, who has stated he has his eye on a leadership role. But again it can argued whether Warner has cemented his spot with his style of batting tending towards inconsistency.

The greatest problem for the Aussies is the man they seem to rate as the second best leader in the country is national T20 captain George Bailey, and he wasn’t even in the touring squad for the India Test series.

Do the selectors try and find a spot for Bailey in the XI too add leadership? It would be a big ask for the bloke in his first international tour on the biggest stage of all in the Ashes.

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But they have thrown him big tasks before leading the T20 side on debut and the ODI side on his debut on Australian soil.

The other question is can he hold his own with the bat? His ODI form has been good but his Shield record is hardly screaming, ‘Pick me’.

One player who has certainty rooted himself in the team is fast bowler Peter Siddle.

He seems a bit of a fan favourite when discussing leadership and his lion-hearted efforts with the ball does mean he leads by example.

But if Clarke were to go down again and Siddle was too become the main man, how tactically savvy would he be?

Australia’s leadership has too many question marks and no obvious answers.

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