Clarke on track to play in India Test series

SS, next you will be proposing that the recent best performers in the Matador Cup be selected.

I don't think people get it here. I mean proposing players to come into the team that are actually in form? Doesn't happen. According to the selectors it matters if a players has an x factor, potential, what he did years ago, hits them good in the nets, is a gun fielder and can hit a long ball, can be picked for a role he has never played in his career, can be picked again despite many examples of failing etc etc. The insanity of CA selectors is never ending. They have got it wrong a lot lately losing 3 of the last 5 test series.

I haven't actually been watching that much to be honest. Yeah I think I'd start him there though. But if he's out of sorts after a couple of games and Marsh is doing well, then they have to look at moving him on. But right now is there anyone else you'd back to score more runs at 3 for our test team? He's done the best. And the wheel has turned because he'd be there more for his batting. Clarke had said he is only there if he can bowl, as an all rounder. If his batting is poor, then he goes, and probably for good.

I think this article may have been out of date by the time it was posted. Things like this were said during the game yesterday, but in the news this morning the suggestion was Clarke was likely to miss the whole India series for surgery, to make sure he was right for both the WC and the Ashes.

Watto at 3 James? As you probably know I've been a fan, but far out he is looking terrible at the moment. Out lbw again and a couple of others struck him on the pad that weren't far away. And he only faced 20 odd balls.

If it was my choice Rogers, Warner, Smith, Watto, Burns, M Marsh, Haddin, Jono, Starc, Sayers, Lyon

I think calling him a perenial underachiever is a bit harsh. Sure his FC average could be higher, but he did very well in the ODIs he played. He might be one of those who took a while to blossom. Hussey and Hayden are two who came into or back into the test team around that age and prospered. It can happen.

Ferguson has been a perennial under-achiever and considering that his home-ground is Roadelaide, his overall stats are quite average. Having said that, it would not surprise if he were to make a successful step up as most of his problems appear to have been between the ears rather than technical and he has taken his game to a different level since openly declaring his ambitions before the start of last season

I like Ferguson, he's been just under thereabouts for years now. But his SA team mate Copper will give him a run, as will Burns.

Hmm. So who slots into the middle order with Clarke out? Watson at 3, Doolan out? You've got who - Burns and Ferguson ripping it up right now, Silk (maybe he'd bat 3 and Watto 4), Hughes. No obvious replacement. Ferguson has scored 317 runs and has only been out twice. If uyou're picking a no.4 on form, he's your guy. I haven't seen him bat for a while, but I do remember him doing really well for us in ODIs about 2-3 years back. He used to be like AHussey and Bevo - he'd come in on a deck the others above him had been struggling on, and make it look a lot easier. It was like he was batting on a different wicket. Ferguson has always had the ability, maybe he's starting to put it together consistently now. Last season he scored 565 runs at 56 - must have been injured as he only played 7 games. So that's a good period of consistent scores. He'd be my option. He's currently 29 and has some decent experience. He'd have 6 good years left, possibly one or two more. He could also be an option at 5 if Smith ever moves to 3, and Clarke won't last forever.

Rod Marsh was at his imperious 'best'. Heals was his usual gormless self. No questions were asked about Wade - even among test keepers. His inclusion is unexplainable, but I'd like to have heard someone have a go at it. Interestingly, Ludeman was the only keeper acknowledged by Marsh. On Clarke, Marsh was going to 'back him in' for the Gabba on medical advice. The same advice that has seen him break down again and again in recent times when he was cleared to play. I hope Clarke has another 2 years of tests in him, but.

As Atawhai says above, this article is misguiding. According to an article on cricket.com.au posted 2 hours ago, Pat Howard says Clarke may miss the whole tour to undergo surgery, aiming to be back for the world cup. I very much look forward to the possibility of a tribute to Ian Craig.

That interview with Rod Marsh was accurately labelled a train wreck by many of those who saw it. Despite what Marsh said, Clarke seems unlikely to play in the first Test against India and might miss the entire series. On the subject of captaincy, cricket tragics of a certain age will be saddened by news of the death of Ian Craig at 79. Craig first played for NSW at 16 and Australia at 17 in the early 1950s. He led the Australian team on its tour of South Africa in 1957-58, aged just 22, but a bout of hepatitis and work responsibilities brought his career to a premature close long before his 30th birthday. Aged nine, I got his autograph when an Australian second team toured New Zealand in 1960. David Lord and/or Spiro Zavos would have known him and might be writing tribute pieces right now. I hope so.