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On Thursday, the 2013 Champions Trophy opened with a 26-run win for India over South Africa.
Clarke missed Australia’s first match, a fixture against England, because of his back flaring up.
England subsequently ran out big winners.
This made me think about the best way to use Australia’s best batsman.
Clarke’s best hope of being fit and firing come the Ashes will be to miss the Champion’s Trophy.
He will be missed more then than now.
Bailey will take over as captain and Clarke’s ODI form is not equivalent to his Test form, so a replacement will be easier to find.
Australia’s Ashes hopes rely heavily on Clarke’s performances, and his absence will drastically reduce any chance Australia already had of achieving an Ashes upset.
Will Clarke be missed in the Champion’s Trophy?
I don’t think so.
Sure he will leave a small gap but a gap fillable by others.
Clarke’s moderate ODI form could be replicated by someone like Steve Smith or Usman Khawaja.
Although these replacements are not at Clarke’s level, Clarke would be easier to replace in ODIs compared to in the longer form of the game.
Clarke’s experience in England and in the Ashes is invaluable.
Australia would like to have Clarke fit all the time, but this will not be the case so he must be managed so that he can have an extended Test career, which is what Australia need if they are going to once again become a world power.
So Roarers, should Clarke be left out of the Champion’s Trophy side to get his back right for the Ashes?
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