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India v Australia, 2nd Test, Hyderabad, 4th day
Clarke to move up the order
March 5, 2013
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Michael Clarke has confirmed that he will move up the order from his customary No. 5 position after Australia's shambolic display in both innings in Hyderabad. Clarke is the joint leading run-scorer in the series with 268, the same tally as India's captain MS Dhoni, and more than double scored by any other member of Australia's top six.
He scored 130 in the first innings in Chennai and followed that with 91 on the first day in Hyderabad but neither effort could prevent a heavy defeat. Despite his outstanding form since taking over the captaincy in 2011, Clarke has steadfastly remained at No. 5, but given the struggles of Phillip Hughes and Shane Watson at Nos. 3 and 4 in this series, that will change for the third Test.
"I think I have no choice," Clarke said after the innings loss in Hyderabad. "Again, it hasn't been about me, it's about trying to do what's best for the team, and I think now, especially in these conditions, I have to bat higher."
When asked if that would mean first drop or second drop, Clarke said: "I've got nine days to work it out. Wherever I can go and put some runs on the board to help the team."
Although Ed Cowan showed some signs during the second innings that he had learnt from his first three efforts and occupied the crease for nearly three hours, the rest of the batting order collapsed. So far in this series Watson has made 28, 17, 23 and 9; Hughes has scored 6, 0, 19 and 0; Cowan has managed 29, 32, 4 and 44 and Warner has tallied 59, 23, 6 and 26.
"I don't think picking your batting order can revolve around one person, the team needs the team to play well," Clarke said. "We need our top six batters to be scoring runs, we need our four, five or six bowlers to be taking wickets. It can't be about one person. I've never played cricket that way and I don't want this team to go to that.
"We have enough talent, but we have to get better, every single one of us. I would have liked more runs in the first innings and more runs today in the second innings, so I have work to do as well. I don't want it to be about the individuals, I want it to be about the whole team improving.
Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets here
Feeds: Brydon Coverdale
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Brydon Coverdale
Assistant Editor Possibly the only person to win a headline-writing award for a title with the word "heifers" in it, Brydon decided agricultural journalism wasn't for him when he took up his position with ESPNcricinfo in Melbourne. His cricketing career peaked with an unbeaten 85 in the seconds for a small team in rural Victoria on a day when they could not scrounge up 11 players and Brydon, tragically, ran out of partners to help him reach his century. He is also a compulsive TV game-show contestant and has appeared on half a dozen shows in Australia.
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Not really an argument for me .... Clarke stays at No.5 unless you select 6-bowlers. Just ask yourself ....
Who was the best Australian batsman for almost 2-years?? Michael Hussey
What position did he bat at?? No6
Was he moved when those around him were failing?? No!! He stayed at No.6 and scored lots of runs, and was at No6 when he retired.
MJ Clarke is a No5 batsman .... and for those who think that he is scared of the new ball I think that you are overstating the strength of those before him. Some of his best batting has occurred when he comes in at 3 wickets down and less than 50-runs on the board (2012-13 SA Tour). Ponting was much more fortunate for most of his career coming in at No3.
Aust is in this position because of a lack of planning and vision. To those who disagree just ask yourself .... who will be Captain if Clarke's hammy tears or his back goes??
Good on Clarke to move up the order. The difference between his class and standard and the rest of Aussie batsmen is a mile wide. I had predicted earlier that while Hughes can score heavily against the pop gun Sri Lankan bowling on home pitches, his technique would be badly exposed on the subcontinental pitches. High time he is dropped alongwith Shane Watson who clearly is not in his element since his recovery from multiple injuries. My team would be Cowan, Warner, Khwaja ,Clarke, Henriques, Smith,Wade, Johnson, Pattinson, Siddle, Lyon. Drop Hughes, Maxwell , Doherty . As for India, its payback time now after their 0-4 drubbing in their last series, simple as that even if it means tailoring the pitches. Even they have issues which are being masked now with Sehwag & Harbhajan mere shadows of their past glory days.
If Clarke bats at 4, that suggests one batsman will be dropped. But who?
Warner: struggled so far, but enough runs in the bank. Won't be dropped because this tour is a learning experience for a talented, young batsman still growing into his long-form game.
Cowan: made starts and shown signs of adjusting, but has done this throughout his short career, and only one century to show for it. Looks like he won't be able to make the jump to Test level.
Hughes: limited technique works in pace-bowling dominated domestic cricket, but is exposed by good spin bowling. Looks very low on confidence. But also has youth and talent on his side. This tour will be seen as a learning experience for a player of the future.
Watson: made starts, but gotten out to soft dismissals. Probably won't be dropped because selectors will want him to get his batting sorted out, hoping that he'll return to bowling by the Ashes.
I can't split Hughes & Cowan as the batsman to go. Watson to open or #3; Khawaja at #5.
This move has been pending for a long time. The team's best batsman cant bat below 4. Its ideal for the best batsman in any team to bat as high as possible, of course, giving allowances to specialist openers. This is a good move by Clarke and will help the team to restrict quick wickets at the top of the order. Phil Hughes has been totally out of form and has been struggling against spin. They need to rethink their combination before the next match if they have to put up any sort of fight
That's the most pragmatic decision. While you are at it, get in Khawaja and Lyon into the final XI.
Posted by AKS286 on (March 6, 2013, 15:04 GMT)Usman Khawaja will be the another member of Highly overrated FlopStars. Khawaja is a ordinary below average batsman. S.Marsh, Voges, Ferguson, Doolan, Cosgrove, Birt, Quiney, North, Klinger, Roger, etc are far far Better than khawaja.
Posted by Jay.Raj on (March 6, 2013, 14:51 GMT)I still think if Hussey was there, Him and Clarke wouldve posted 300+ run partnerships.
Posted byClarke can't bat below 3. Absolutely no excuse if he does so as he's BADLY needed as high up the order as this team will allow. The 'balance' he has spoken about previously in regards to his batting at 5 just hasn't been there, with four openers in the top 4, your keeper batting in a specialist bat position, and the recent experiment of playing 2 all-rounders in Maxwell and Henriques. Go back to basics. I would have 1 Watson 2 Warner 3 Clarke 4 Cowan 5 Khawaja 6 Henriques 7 Wade 8 Johnson* 9 Pattinson 10 Doherty** 11 Lyon.
2 openers. A better looking middle order. 1 all-rounder. 2 spinners and 2 seamers (better balance for the conditions).
*Johnson comes in as I think Siddle could do with a rest. Johnson's aggression and being a lefty could be more useful than Siddle, who's been outbowled by Pattinson.
**Doherty in as a left-arm foil for the right armed Lyon. Would rather our specialist spinner be given the benefit over a limited overs specialist masquerading as a test player.
Posted by kentjones on (March 6, 2013, 11:53 GMT)A word of caution here for Clarke and Australia. Remember folks cricket above all else is a game of the mind. Clarke has grown accustomed to batting at no. 5 and he has performed excellently, if I dare so remarkably so, at this position, no matter the state of the game or the state of the pitch. To my mind this is his groove slot and it works for him. Although moving up even one notch may appear to be innocuous, it can and may take time to adjust, since the psychology and thinking at that position is not the same. Ask Chanderpaul, he has refused to go higher in the WI order, although he is one of the most consistent batters in the game today. Study some of the greats, Lara, Ponting and Tendulkar who batted at different positions, one will discover that there is one position they perform best at, where they are most comfortable. Clarke performs best at no. 5, leave him be! The problem is the other guys, let them shape up or ship out and get batters who can do the business.
Posted byMove him up the order and keep him there! Aussies need it. Especially so that he can face the new ball against Finn & Anderson on the greens of England ;)