While Team India was taking on New Zealand in Maharashtra, Australian batting great Micheal Clarke made news in the country on Wednesday for his comments on the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Former Australian captain Clarke used a cuss word while talking about the Australian squad for the upcoming Test series against India. Clarke strongly argued that the Australian selectors need to bring in a specialist opener to take on Rohit Sharma and Co. as the experiment using Steve Smith in the slot failed to yield the desired results. The Baggy Greens should give an in-form player from the domestic circuit a call-up instead of asking batters to change their regular position, he said.
Clarke told Sky Sports Radio that Australia made a mistake by asking Steve Smith to open the innings. "We made a mistake in getting Steve Smith to open the batting in Test cricket, so let's not make the same mistake. Let's pick a specialist opener, whoever is best equipped," he said.
Elaborating further, Clarke said Cameron Bancroft deserves to open for Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. "I would probably go with Cameron Bancroft because he's been the leading run scorer for the last two years in Shield cricket. I care about Shield cricket. I think he's earned the right to be selected based on runs," the multiple World Cup winner said.
Clarke argued that players like Josh Inglis, who has been successful down the order can't be promoted to open the innings. An in-form middle-order batter can't be asked to open against a quality international side just because your specialist openers are struggling in the Shiled to make runs. It is in this context that Clarke made a derogatory remark on air.
"...It's not just about who's making runs right here, right now. That is not how you select an Australian cricket team.
...The problem they (Australia) have at the moment is the top three contenders who are specialist opening batters are not making runs in Shield cricket."Who gives a s**t? It's been two Shield rounds on wickets that are seaming -- who cares? It can't just be about making runs in the two Shield games," Micheal Clarke said.
Since Steven Smith was part of the conversation, many who didn't hear the radio programme in full thought he used the cuss word to abuse his former teammate Smith.
The first Test of the Border-Gavaskar trophy is scheduled to start at Perth's Optus Stadium on November 22.