If we are going by this season then Smith was picked out of form just like Hughes. So not the best example. Even if you ignore that form, Dussey has done nothing in the ODI arena to suggest he deserves going straight into the side. It's all potential and there are others that have that same potential and the form who should be ahead of him.
Ye thats my point with Smith. He was picked on domestic form, but as many argued just by watching him playing he wasn't as good as his domestic stats suggested as a test standard spin-bowling all-rounder & should never have played in the Ashes.
Hussey however may not be having the greatest ryobi cup form this season. But difference with Smiths FC form, Hussey clealry has & always had all the potential to be a top ODI player.
With regards to his ODI form as i said before during 2009 the selectors messed him up by not giving him a settled position in ODIs vs SA, NZ, PAK. That was period when alot of the main players where out injured & Dussey was being roated between # 4-6 every game. So by recalling him now, they need to let him bat in one position & give him a set role.
Also people need to realise this is not the Test format so form from that format doesn't always carry into the ODI arena. Hussey has been crap in the Test format for the past two seasons but he has been our best ODI batsmen. Clarke is coming off his best ODI performances in a while, averaged 110 against the English at a strike rate of 83 which he backed up with an average of 51 against SL at a strike rate of 91. If we are dropping him then we may as well drop the whole team and not pick anyone.
Im not saying Clarke should be dropped. Im saying Clarke SR since the 2007 WC which many people where complaining about all year on this site i.e Robellina & sifter32 & angryangy was slightly distubring although he kept making runs.
Innings such as these i'm refering to:
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2nd ODI: India v Australia at Visakhapatnam, Oct 20, 2010 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo
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2nd ODI: Australia v New Zealand at Melbourne, Feb 6, 2009 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo
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1st ODI: England v Australia at Southampton, Jun 22, 2010 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo
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4th ODI: England v Australia at The Oval, Jun 30, 2010 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo
As you can see & im sure you remember. Pup getting critiqued for the fact that he didn't have the ability after he ended up batting in the death overs to hit the boundaries. All he could do was run alot of 2 & 3 with excellent running between the wickets. The power hitting was left for someone else, which is a slight achillies heel.
Guys like Hodge or Dussey coming @ # 4 wouldn''t have that problem. So what im basically saying if Clarke wasn't anointed as skipper & was just seen as another player. The chances of him being pushed aside in the ODI set-up would be possible, although it would be harsh.
Since the fact is Hodge or Dussey coming in @ # 4 behind Ponting in the ODI team has a more lethal look to it than Pup @ # 4.