Australia A v. India - Hobart

[Donny]

Clarke ready to replace Waugh

By Michael Donaldson -Fox Sports


MICHAEL CLARKE believes he's ready to fill the No.5 batting spot in the Australian line-up when Steve Waugh retires but feels he might have to wait a bit longer to get his chance.

Clarke, 22, goes head-to-head with some fellow contenders for the spot when Australia A take on India in a three-day game at Hobart's Bellerive Oval from tomorrow.

Clarke, Martin Love and Brad Hodge are all in the Australia A side and all have plenty to prove with the knowledge that any one of them is just three Tests away from a possible call-up.

Waugh's spot will become empty for the tour of Sri Lanka in March and Clarke, having made a splendid fist of his limited one-day appearances for Australia, is looking forward to further pressing his claims for a Test spot.

"I think somebody my age has to be patient," Clarke said on arrival in Hobart.

"When is the time right? I can't answer that - it's up to the selectors.

"Once Steve retires there's a spot, but in saying that there's probably 10 guys who can fill that spot.

"You've got Darren Lehmann coming back, you've got Martin Love, who's still scoring runs, Brad Hodge ... there's plenty of guys.

"Is it right for Michael Clarke to play (for Australia)?

"I don't know the answer to that.

"I'd love to say yes but it's up to the selectors and all I can do is score as many runs as I can and hopefully one day I'll get that opportunity."

Clarke said playing against the resurgent Indians on a noted batting deck was as good a place as any to start.

"For myself, it's a great opportunity to play against India in a three-day game having only played against them in one-day form over there," he said.

"It's another opportunity and hopefully I can score some runs and we can come away with a win."

Clarke admits there's pressure associated with being tagged the bright young star of Australian cricket but reckons he puts enough pressure on himself anyway.

"I put a fair bit of pressure on myself. There's no added pressure because of that at all."

Clarke is confident NSW teammate Brett Lee will be at his top for the Boxing Day Test once he gets another Pura Cup game under his belt.

Lee has played a one-day and a four-day game since undergoing surgery on his ankle and Clarke was impressed with his performance against Victoria.

"I thought he bowled very well - the first dig he bowled brilliantly," he said.

"It was his first game back and he'll definitely improve again with the four-dayer against Tasmania this week."

[Johnson#26]

I think Clarke will do well against the Indians after his success in November. Why isn't Brett Lee in the side? I thought he would be eligable given he didn't play in Adelaide.

[Donny]

Johnno, this Oz A team isn't picked strictly as the next best 12 players after the Test team.

For instance, Tait's figures dont really earn him a spot but the selectors want to take a look at him at this level whereas Wright, Nicho and Rofe have bowled themselves into the team.

Lee will get a better workout playing a four day Pura game than a 3 dayer at Bellerive plus the selectors wouldn'y particularly want the Indians getting practice against him before the Melbourne Test.

[JLC]

I think the selection panel should have one representative from each state or at the very least they should make it a point that at least one selector goes to each game.

I think its a bit much having Hohns, Border and Buchanan all QLD's involved. There is a huge bias to QLD considering Buchanan was the coach and would know those players inside out and any 50:50 call would surely go in favour of a QLD player ? However maybe Martin Love needs to check his birth certificate as he must have done something wrong....lol

jlc

[Johnson#26]

MAGFAN8 said: "Oz A team isn't picked strictly as the next best 12 players after the Test team"

I just thought that he would need some match practice against a test match hardened side.

[Johnson#26]

Aus A won the toss & elected to bat.
At the end of the 1st over Aus A: 0/4 - Hussey 2, Rogers 0.
Hussey had one big caught behind appeal but nothing doing.

[Johnson#26]

Rogers off the mark with a 2 and then a 4 through mid-off.
At the end of the 2nd over Aus A: 0/10 - Rogers 6, Hussey 2.

[Donny]

Australia A openers are enjoying the Bellerive wicket, especially Rogers. He's 62 n.o. and Hussey is 30 n.o.

After 25 overs, the score is 0/102.

[Donny]

Well, Chris Rogers didn't do his future prospects any harm with an excellent 70 from 94 balls.

Oz A is 1/119. Hussey is 36 n.o.

[Donny]

1/200 after 50 overs.

Hussey is 63 n.o. and Love, 43 n.o.

[Johnson#26]

Hussey out for 67 and then Brad Hodge for 1.
Martin Love now goes for 94.

Australia A: 4\279 - Clarke 17, White 0.

[commonwombat]

3/207 at tea. Nehra picked up 2 quick wickets shortly before the break.
Hussey was caight by Ganguly for 67. In a sad moment for Victorian, Australian and undoubtedly world cricket, the great man Bradley Hodge had his house knocked over for 1.

Since tea, Love and Clarke progressed to 279, Love has just gloved one through to the keeper off Pathan and has gone for 94. Clarke is currently 21 no.

[Johnson#26]

At stumps on day 1:
Australia A: 5\311 declared:
Hussey: 67
Rogers: 70
Love: 94
Hodge: 1
Clarke: 38*
White: 15
Seccombe: 0*

India: 1\37: Nicholson: 1\10, Wright: 0\3, White: 0\14, Tait: 0\8.

[Donny]

At lunch, India are 3/121 with Chopra on 41 n.o.

If Tendulkar plays many more innings like this one even JLC will have a problem to continue calling him the best batsman in the world.

Here was his chance to run into some form. The 'batsman friendly' Bellerive wicket, a second string Oz bowling attack and no real reason to try to win but no, he played like a young Ricky Ponting or Steve Waugh - all flowing and flashing strokes and was out hooking a ball high in the air with a fielsman posted on the boundary.

[Johnson#26]

Tait strikes again! Tait now has 3\69 and looks exciting.