Australia could be ranked below Ireland

[Andre]

The selection of the T20 side isn't something that's covered much in the press here in general.

I think Watson would be captain right now he was actually fit when Clarke retired and Bailey was given the job. He wasn't actually overlooked at such; he just wasn't available and I think the selectors wanted to start the planning for the T20 World Championship then and there, getting some sort of structure in place. After they made Bailey captain initially, I don't think they were too keen to take the job off him straight away when Watson recovered, especially given they actually brought him in as a specialist captain.

I think it's all pretty silly personally so I'm not defending it, but that's the rationale behind what happened.

Yep, that was pretty much it.

That said, Watson as VC was a Hilditch panel call with White as T20 skipper which was a good call at the time.

Bailey is very much an Inverarity selection - but as I felt we saw from Watson as skipper in some ODI's earlier this year, he's not got a great feel or ability to read the game so he struggled making calls on the hop. Bailey 2nd best skipper in the country behind Clarke for me, and in the best 7 short form batsmen in the country now (after some doubts early) so has turned out a really good call I reckon.

 

[Red]

I think Bailey is being prepared to be test captain at some point in the next 3/4 years.

If Clarke was injured/suddenly retired, I'd prefer Bailey to be test captain over the robot.

 

[Prince EWS]

I think Bailey is being prepared to be test captain at some point in the next 3/4 years.

If Clarke was injured/suddenly retired, I'd prefer Bailey to be test captain over the robot.

Bailey is only a year younger than Clarke, so I don't see it at all. IMO Invers just decided at the time that with Clarke retired and Watson still recovering from what was a pretty long-term injury, Bailey was the best man to lead the side. I don't think there's anything more to it than that really.

 

[Dan]

Bailey is only a year younger than Clarke, so I don't see it at all. IMO Invers just decided at the time that with Clarke retired and Watson still recovering from what was a pretty long-term injury, Bailey was the best man to lead the side. I don't think there's anything more to it than that really.

Australia Cricket News: Australia news: Michael Clarke foreshadows his retirement | ESPN Cricinfo

Depending on what Clarke deems to be his 'late 30s', Bailey could end up with 2-3 years in charge before passing it on to someone with some sort of leadership qualities. I do agree with what you said, however if Pup does bow out early it may turn out to be unintentional succession planning.

Who else would we have to lead?

 

[Spikey]

Bailey is only a year younger than Clarke, so I don't see it at all. IMO Invers just decided at the time that with Clarke retired and Watson still recovering from what was a pretty long-term injury, Bailey was the best man to lead the side. I don't think there's anything more to it than that really.

Bailey being the Aus A captain in the tour match against the Kiwis made a lot more sense after Bailey was made T20 captain.......I mean at the time they weren't many of us saying Bailey must be in that team...

 

[uvelocity]

yeah it's pretty well been said. Bailey has held his place as a batsman, and would seem a much better choice as skipper anyway

 

[BoyBrumby]

I always thought Oz was the land of picking your best XI and giving the armband to the least-worst captain amongst them.

Bailey might be a late bloomer, but (assuming Clarke goes on to 36/7) will a 35+ Bailey really likely to be in your best six batsmen?

 

[Spark]

I always thought Oz was the land of picking your best XI and giving the armband to the least-worst captain amongst them.

Bailey might be a late bloomer, but (assuming Clarke goes on to 36/7) will a 35+ Bailey really likely to be in your best six batsmen?

The specialist captain is something of a tradition in Aus T20 teams tbf.

 

[Red]

I always thought Oz was the land of picking your best XI and giving the armband to the least-worst captain amongst them.

Bailey might be a late bloomer, but (assuming Clarke goes on to 36/7) will a 35+ Bailey really likely to be in your best six batsmen?

I might be wrong, but I think Clarke said a while back he won't play on forever. I wouldn't be surprised if he retired from all forms in two or three years. Seems to be the sort of guy who would enjoy doing other stuff with his life, as opposed to Punter and Mussey who just love it.

If (big if) those were the circumstances, Bailey would be the ideal choice for two or three years of captaincy.

The other candidate seemed to be Paine a few years back, but it remains to be seen whether he will even get a spot in the test team.

Who are the Sheffield Shield captains for 2012/13?

 

[Andre]

James Hopes, Steve O'Keefe, Cameron White, Bailey, Johan Botha and Marcus North. Fair to say only Bailey is in the frame for Test cricket of the 5 eligible.

Paine would be the long-term bet for skipper I reckon - Wade has lost a lot of ground with some pretty ordinary displays of late, wouldn't suprise if both Haddin and Paine are infront of him by mid-summer in at least the Test format.

 

[uvelocity]

warner

 

[Red]

James Hopes, Steve O'Keefe, Cameron White, Bailey, Johan Botha and Marcus North. Fair to say only Bailey is in the frame for Test cricket of the 5 eligible.

Cheers Andre. Interesting, hadn't heard Botha was to captain South Australia. For the next two seasons.

South Aus have a fairly young team so probably a good move to import someone. When Botha captained South Africa in one dayers here a few years ago he seemed pretty good.

 

[Andre]

Cheers Andre. Interesting, hadn't heard Botha was to captain South Australia. For the next two seasons.

South Aus have a fairly young team so probably a good move to import someone. When Botha captained South Africa in one dayers here a few years ago he seemed pretty good.

Yep Botha is a terrific leader. Will add some real starch to the SA squad. Plus, I reckon Klinger might be closer than we all think to the Test side should Cowan struggle early on this season - I can understand why SA wanted to take some pressure off him and allow him to score runs.