Walters backs Clarke at No. 7

Doug Walters believes Michael Clarke's brilliant run as opener should not save him from another dumping down the order. Clarke, whose high-energy batting is regularly compared to the style of Walters, made his second one-day century in last night's win against Pakistan and has scores of 66, 97 and 103* not out since standing in for Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist.

Australia dropped Clarke to No. 6 when the usual openers returned at Brisbane and Walters said he would have to accept more similar treatment. "Michael has done a fantastic job as an opener and I don't blame him for wanting to stay there," he said. "Gilchrist goes down to No. 7 for the Tests, so it's probably fair enough if Michael has to do it in the one-dayers."

With Gilchrist resting, Clarke will start with Hayden against West Indies at Adelaide on Wednesday and expects to be demoted when Gilchrist returns on Sunday. Damien Martyn has also been given a week's break and should be back for the same match against Pakistan at the WACA.

Walters said he was disappointed by the SCG crowd's booing of Hayden's 27 off 65 balls as he took the strike from Clarke. "It's not the way an SCG crowd should behave," Walters, who has a stand named after him at the ground, said. "He's obviously struggling a bit at the moment but he'll come good, he's a very important part of the Australian team."

Ricky Ponting felt the crowd was upset by Hayden getting singles from the final ball of the over rather than his slow scoring. "It's disappointing when you're trying your absolute best and hardest and you're copping it from your home crowd," he said. "But that happens, that's sport."