Glenn Maxwell has been buffeted by criticism as a result of his poor batting in ODIs the past nine months. Yet stand-in skipper George Bailey is arguably the bigger liability at the moment.
Maxwell’s last 11 ODIs have seen him return just 177 runs at 16 and have been blighted by a series of maddeningly irresponsible dismissals.
He has, however, been in fine touch with the ball, snaring 12 wickets at 25 over that period, including seven wickets at 23 across six matches against South Africa, who have arguably the world’s best batting line-up.
If Maxwell’s bowling is the only thing keeping him in the side then the same must be said about George Bailey and his captaincy.
As a middle order batsman Bailey has been mired in a deep trough for 15 months now. If he was as divisive a character as Maxwell he’d be getting pilloried in the press and by fans the way the ‘Big Show’ has been for months.
But Bailey has somehow escaped heavy scrutiny for his lengthy period of underperformance.
On October 30, 2013, he obliterated India’s attack at Nagpur, clouting 156 from 114 balls. In doing so he not just confirmed himself as one of the best ODI batsman on the planet but also effectively earned himself a Test debut in the Ashes.
To that point in his 50-over career, he had amassed 1535 runs at 57. He was more than just a destructive force, having also reconstructed subsiding Australian innings on numerous occasions.
But since that extraordinary innings at Nagpur, Bailey has floundered with the blade in ODIs, making just 425 runs at 22. He entered this summer needing to regain touch after several poor series. An energetic innings of 70 from 75 balls in the first ODI against South Africa was an encouraging sign,
It was a false dawn, however, with Bailey’s form dipping further as he returned 72 runs at 12 from his past six ODIs. Even in this summer’s domestic ODIs he struggled, with just 53 runs from three innings for Tasmania.
Despite this significant form slump, Bailey’s position in the side could be all but guaranteed throughout the World Cup, regardless of how poorly he bats.
If regular skipper Michael Clarke cannot prove his fitness and has to withdraw, Bailey will be the World Cup skipper. Australia would then be loathe to sack him for Steve Smith in the middle of the tournament if he continues to fail with the bat.
The selectors have made a big gamble on Bailey finally regaining form. If it doesn’t come off it could cost Australia the World Cup. Should Clarke pass the required fitness tests he should replace Bailey not just as captain but also in the XI. Not only is Clarke a superior skipper but he is also a more consistent ODI batsman.
With nearly 8000 runs at 45 in ODIs, Clarke has the second highest average among the 30 top run scorers in history. Despite his regular injury-forced absences from the side the past two years, he has been solid, averaging 41 from his past 20 ODIs.
Clarke’s strike rate of 80 during that period is low for a modern day batsman. But Australia have no shortage of explosive, fast scoring players, so they can easily accommodate an accumulator like Clarke, should he prove to be in good health.
He also has an extraordinary record in World Cups, with 669 runs at 84 from his 18 matches in the tournaments.
Australia have a wrecking ball of a pace attack and a potent top order. It is in the middle where they look weak.
Bailey is a cause of that problem, even if all the heat is on Maxwell. Right now, Australia desperately need Clarke to be fit for the World Cup because his stand-in is labouring.
Don Freo
Guest
Let's hope life grants you the time you need.
JT
Guest
Don Freo, Sometimes, nothing can open someone's eyes to see the truth. Only TIME can do that.
Don Freo
Guest
Surely someone with such a negative and alienating " world view" as the anti-Clarke view you hold, will, by definition be a "bad" person. That means bad things will happen to you...in keeping with that view. Clarke, therefore, plays. Although good for the world at large, it would be bad for you... In keeping with your "world view".
Don Freo
Guest
Surely someone with such a negative and alienating " world view" as the anti-Clarke view you hold, will, by definition be a "bad" person. That means bad things will happen to you...in keeping with that view. Clarke, therefore, plays. Although good for the world at large, it would be bad for you... In keeping with your "world view".
JT
Guest
What makes you think that i am pro-bailey? I don't care about bailey at all. I am just an anti-clarke. I have a "world view" over everything. I believe that bad people will never get good things. In that point-of-view, i am quite sure that clarke(as a captain) will not get WC win to his name. My point.,"To win, clarke must not be there". He's not fit anyway & yet some vested interests want him to play (at the cost of losing WC). & Yes, as TJ said, i am saying the same thing over& over again. I'll shut up now.
davros
Guest
bailey is a gig who can totally overthink the game...his captaincy skills are not needed ...haven't u been paying attention ...we have a brilliant young captain...who will more than likely just get better and better...personally even if Clarke comes back in I would back smith in all forms ...what more can the young man do to make his case...he is definitly our future...lets just get on with it ....bad back Clarke plays as a top 4 bat...and grinning gig bailey goes back to Tassie
richard
Guest
How many games has Australia lost with Bailey as skipper!? He is a better skipper than Clarke(IMO) Unfortunately the best leader is not always the best bat. You are conflating the two. Clarke shouldn't be in the frame. If Bailey goes it should pass to Smith
davros
Guest
u can bring on Chris Lynn any time u like ...been a big fan of his for a long time ...and no im not a qlder
davros
Guest
bs ..u r falling into the mark taylor trap ...thinking this guy has some sort of superior brain and we cannot go fwd without him....punt the grinning gig and move on
MJ
Guest
Strange how 2 of the biggest rivalries in World Cricket never seem to play each other, Pakistan wouldn't have played too often against India in that time either.... On the team, with Doherty not likely to be an option for the meaningful games (he'll probably fill in against Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Scotland) Maxwell probably has to play with his bowling. Wouldn't trust any of the part timers to do a job that he can with spin. Plus look through the recent history of World Cup winning teams and most of them have a real X-Factor all-round type in it (Wasim 1992, Jayasuriya/Aravinda did the job in 1996, Tom Moody 1999, Symmo 2003, Shaun Tait 2007, Sehwag/Yuvraj 2011)......
Rob G
Guest
not exactly demanding selection
SCC
Guest
Glad we agree. There can be very little doubt that Marsh is the best Aussie ODI batsman not in the WC squad. There is absolutely no doubt that he is in better form than Bailey.
Rob G
Guest
shaun marsh.. hahahahhahaha. Thats the best thing I've heard all day.
TJ
Guest
Ronan, I've just had a look at some of the other Aussie batsmens strike rates only because of your comment re Clarke has a low strike rate for modern batsman didn't sound right to me. Fact is the other "explosive" batsman you mention have strike rates in the 80s as well. Warner and Finch are only marginally higher and Watson and Smith are in the high 80s but all have significantly worse averages. Michael Clarkes statistics alone should guarantee his spot and the selectors, doctors, fans, etc should all be behind having him fit and selected at all costs! By far and away our best batsman and captain for that matter
Matt Simpson
Roar Guru
I think Bailey has been saved from scrutiny by The Big Show's almost slapstick comedy batting lately. If Maxwell was in any type of form, Bailey would be getting a lot more attention.
Freighter
Guest
My biggest concern of the australian team is the top 6's susceptibility to good bowling on a seaming pitch..... Finch, white, marsh, Watson, maxwell and Bailey are all dangerous on flat tracks, but seem to struggle against good international quality bowling. I think that's why Clarke needs to be there- we will require him at some stage of the tournament to knock out 65 off 102 deliveries if we hope to win the tournament.
TJ
Guest
Saying the same thing over and over again isn't going to change my opinion and my opinion is you couldn't be more wrong.....
DMC
Guest
Off topic, but when New Zealand play you guys on 28 Feb, that will be: Four years since the last completed match between the two sides - 25 Feb 2011 Five years - since the match previous to that one, and that was the last match in either Aus/NZ Last 20 matches - 10 - 7 in favour of Australia (3 n/r). Way to treat your ANZAC pals!
SCC
Guest
I am actually bordering on liking that team better. Hehehhehe But Behrendorff in for Pat
SCC
Guest
Just a quick one, the ODI/ODD form of the two can hardly be compared, considering that Marsh has played almost none, being busy with Tests and that injury Why don't we drop both Maxwell and Bailey and bring in the two? With dropping Maxwell it is a choice of whether we won't to excite with an x-factor, or if we want a reliable strong middle order