Clarke called up

[Laurrz]

Michael Clarke has been added to the Australian Squad for the first Ashes Test Match in Brisbane as a precaution for injured all-rounder Shane Watson.

Watson injured his hamstring in the Ford Ranger Cup match between the Bulls and Warriors in Perth on Friday and is in serious doubt for the opening Ashes Test.

He will be assessed by Cricket Australia physiotherapist Alex Kountouris on his arrival in Brisbane on Saturday afternoon with a statement on detailed medical tests to be issued on Sunday morning at the earliest.

Clarke, who made two half centuries against England in the three day tour match at the SCG last weekend, got the nod over Queensland all-rounder Andrew Symonds for the position and will join the Australian squad in Brisbane after he plays in the Ford Ranger Cup game for NSW against Tasmania on Sunday.

He will remain with the Australian squad until such time as Shane Watson's condition has been fully assessed by Cricket Australia's medical staff.

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Good decision

 

[James90]

Source?

 

[mikeW]

its on cricket.com.au

what does poor Hodgey have to do to get a look in?

Hodge>>>>>>>>Clarke by a fair margin at the moment.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Glad it's not Symonds.

This should mean that Clark will get the job ahead of Johnson, too.

 

[Perm]

I'd say Stuart Clark will get in ahead of Tait and Johnson, just because he has more control and isn't as likely to misfire like the other two possibly could. Bit of a shame for Brad Hodge, who batted really well for his state just recently but Michael Clarke hasn't been in terrible FC form. He scored those two half centuries and I think he scored heavily after being dropped from the test side against South Africa.

 

[Great Birtannia]

Can we put Clarke out of his (test) misery for good if he plays and fails again? Jaques should request to bat in the middle order for New South Wales, you can just see them promoting Hussey to opener and reverting to Clarke again once one of the openers gives it away.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Can we put Clarke out of his (test) misery for good if he plays and fails again? Jaques should request to bat in the middle order for New South Wales, you can just see them promoting Hussey to opener and reverting to Clarke again once one of the openers gives it away.

For good? Hardly. He's still young and is obviously a massive talent. If he fails again he'll go back to New South Wales and when he starts making consistent runs again and there's a place available he'll return to the side, just like Martyn, Hayden, Langer, Steve Waugh etc. They're hardly going to write off his entire test career because he has an average time of it in his early to mid 20s in tests, especially while he's an ODI regular.

As it stands, he's played in Australia's last two test matches, so he was the obvious choice if Watson wasn't available to replace him.

 

[Great Birtannia]

If he fails again he'll go back to New South Wales and when he starts making consistent runs again and there's a place available he'll return to the side, just like Martyn, Hayden, Langer, Steve Waugh etc.

I was overstating the forever part but he should have been required to do that before he was recalled for Bangladesh and again this time around - he was technically dropped once more before Watson was injured. It's tough dropping Hodge two matches after scoring an unbeaten double century and then reverting back, twice, at a later stage to someone who hasn't made significant test runs in numerous opportunities over 2 years.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Personally, as a Pom, I'd prefer us to be bowling to Clarke rather than Jaques. Pup looks by far the more fluent player, but one always has the impression he's likely to chuck his wicket away with a rush of blood. Jaques is one of those players who gives lie to the "stylish left-hander" cliche with his predominantly bottom-hand shovels (reminds me slightly of Fat Gray in that respect, but seems to happily lack the tubby paltroon's knobendish personality traits), but looks to have great power of concentration.

 

[pasag]

Do or die for Clarke. If he messes up here there will be calls for his head.

 

[Josh]

its on cricket.com.au

what does poor Hodgey have to do to get a look in?

Hodge>>>>>>>>Clarke by a fair margin at the moment.

Keep his ****ing mouth shut, I'm tipping.

 

[chaminda_00]

Can we put Clarke out of his (test) misery for good if he plays and fails again? Jaques should request to bat in the middle order for New South Wales, you can just see them promoting Hussey to opener and reverting to Clarke again once one of the openers gives it away.

Considering Jaques was picked as opener when Langer was injuried infront of Hussey, i seriously doubt that will happen.

 

[Woodster]

As an Englishman myself, I would rather see Clarke striding out at 6 than Brad Hodge or Jaques really. I like Clarke and think he probably will become a top class player, but as has been said, you do feel you have a chance with Clarke, where as a Brad Hodge, once set appears to rarely give it away and more often than not goes on to get a biggy.

 

[Josh]

As an Englishman myself, I would rather see Clarke striding out at 6 than Brad Hodge or Jaques really. I like Clarke and think he probably will become a top class player, but as has been said, you do feel you have a chance with Clarke, where as a Brad Hodge, once set appears to rarely give it away and more often than not goes on to get a biggy.

Yet doesn't get a bloody game.

Blah, I give up on Hodge. New Victorian to get behind: CL White.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Pretty much going to ****ing cry.

 

[chaminda_00]

Yet doesn't get a bloody game.

Blah, I give up on Hodge. New Victorian to get behind: CL White.

Yeah atleast Hodge is half decent, mind you White will probably get quite a few games cus of how crap the rest of the Australian young spinners are.

 

[aussie]

hope Pup won't have to play

 

[Josh]

Yeah atleast Hodge is half decent, mind you White will probably get quite a few games cus of how crap the rest of the Australian young spinners are.

Would clearly play as a batting all-rounder.

 

[Matt79]

He'll never be an allrounder while he continues to refuse to bowl himself. He surely must see himself as a batsman who can roll the arm over occasionally rather than an allrounder given how little he bowls himself.

 

[Josh]

He'll never be an allrounder while he continues to refuse to bowl himself. He surely must see himself as a batsman who can roll the arm over occasionally rather than an allrounder given how little he bowls himself.

Ponting's come out and said he needs to bowl himself more in order to play for Australia.