Australia's T20 captaincy contenders

piriyanth

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Cricket Australia will announce Ricky Ponting's replacement as national Twenty20 captain after their October board meeting. Alex Brown runs the rule over the contenders

Michael Clarke, 28, New South Wales
Cricket Australia's kingmakers nailed their colours to the mast two years ago by announcing Clarke as Ponting's successor, but recent developments have called into question whether the baton change will be so clear-cut. A mainstay of Australia's Test middle-order, Clarke has made less of an impact in the limited overs formats, where his modest strike-rates (67.31 and 80.91 in one-dayers and Twenty20s respectively since the beginning of 2008) have placed significant pressure on his teammates to lift the tempo. That said, Australia have won 11 out of 14 ODIs under Clarke's captaincy, and the right-hander has averaged 97 in his two matches as Australia's Twenty20 skipper. He remains the favourite to succeed Ponting.

Cameron White, 26, Victoria
White has played a leading role in guiding the Bushrangers to all four domestic Big Bash finals - three of them victoriously - and is considered one of the most tactically astute Twenty20 minds in the country. Though omitted from Australia's original squad for the World Twenty20 in England this year, he was eventually called in to replace the Andrew Symonds and retained his position for the series in England. White possesses a presence not dissimilar to Symonds in the Australian middle order - he has averaged 41.40 at the eye-catching strike-rate of 150 in eight Twenty20 internationals - and also offers an occasional wrist-spinning option. With Symonds out of the picture, White will presumably be a permanent fixture in the Australian Twenty20 side henceforth.

Brad Haddin, 31, New South Wales

Selectors have twice called upon Haddin to lead Australia in Twenty20 internationals against New Zealand (home) and Pakistan (away) during rest periods for Ponting and Clarke. Previously, he earned a reputation as an aggressive and adventurous leader at NSW, but has made way for Simon Katich at domestic level in recent seasons. A compact and aggressive batsman, Haddin has been used everywhere from opener to the middle-order in his ODI and Twenty20 career and remains a competent wicketkeeper. Australia's selections panel might baulk at adding to his already heavy workload, however.

Michael Hussey, 34, Western Australia

Hussey is an unlikely option given his advanced age and 0-4 win-loss record as national ODI captain, but has emerged as perhaps the most important batsman in Australia's limited overs sides. Despite modest recent returns in the Test arena, Hussey has played a Michael Bevan-esque role in recent ODI campaigns and was the only Australian nominated for the ICC's one-day player of the year crown.

Callum Ferguson, 24, South Australia

Australia have lost their past five Twenty20 internationals - including both pool games in a shambolic World Twenty20 campaign - prompting CA to announce a major review of selection and tactics. Ferguson would represent the ultimate in clean slates, although an elevation to the captaincy would seem most improbable given his dearth of leadership experience with the Redbacks. He nonetheless remains Australia's brightest batting prospect and could feasibly play the game at the highest level for another decade.

Australia's captaincy contenders | Australia Cricket News | Cricinfo.com

Most likely option is Clarke but there are some people who feels that he shouldn't be playing in T20 matches.

So who will you choose as the next T20 captain?
 
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aussie1st

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There is no question it will be Clarke. The only way he won't be captain is if he gets dropped which clearly won't happen.
 
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pcfan123

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lol at Hussey as a suggestion. Should he even be in the 2020 team?
 

Covvy

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I have a feeling that Callum Ferguson is a very smart cricketer. Would be interesting how he goes if he does get it because he seems to bat smartly.
 

Brook

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Going to be Clarke, but perhaps White would be worth a try, when it gets to the stage of Clarke needing a rest.
 

sifter132

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Would be a real slap in the face (or maybe a Katich-like throat grab :D) by the selectors if Clarke DIDN'T get it. He's a talented kid, very keen, seemingly a good leader but with an average record in his short T20 career thus far.

T20 could be done without Clarke for sure, but I'm not sure the selectors want to. What you really have to ask is, would he make the best side? Where would he bat? Who else do we have?
A Clarke less side might look like:
1. Warner
2. Marsh
3. Watson
4. D.Hussey
5. Ferguson
6. White
7. Haddin

Voges is a decent reserve batsman and Haddin can always open to let us play another all-rounder at 7.


I would offer the captaincy to Clarke, but only if he agrees to play IPL to improve his T20 game. Otherwise, if he isn't totally committed to T20 I'd go with White captain, Haddin vice. In fact, I would probably prefer that because if both Ponting AND Clarke turn their back on T20 it might show people that it shouldn't be taking over the cricket world.
 

aussie1st

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The side certainly looks a lot better without Clarke there. But Clarke is committed to T20, I believe he is looking for an IPL contract and our selectors want to groom him via this and the ODI format so no chance of that happening.
 

sifter132

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Howsie

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Doesn't Clarke want one million plus to play in the IPL? I'm pretty sure his starting bid last year was one million but he pulled out.
 

aussie1st

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And as you and I write, he is not going to the Champions League:
Clarke decides against Champions League | Cricket News | Champions League Twenty20 2009 | Cricinfo.com

Not a good sign, he needs to rate T20 highly if he wants to be captain IMHO. Plus he needs to improve his batting tactics in T20, can't see how that will happen if he keeps skipping games.

Was good to hear he might do the IPL though, it would probably help his T20 game a lot.

Geez what is going on with us and T20. Clarke may as well just retire from T20 as well, save us the trouble.
 

iridescentt

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As much as I like Clarke with his leadership role, he lacks the T20 strike rate and average. I'd honestly recommend Cameron White, everyone calls him a dope at my Uni and no one likes him on the forums but he's done wonders for the Bushrangers and brings to the table a healthy strike rate/average, plus he can bat anywhere after first drop.

Don't flame me, I'm talking sense here.
 

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