Michael Clarke has doubled down on his attack on Australia’s cricket selectors, imploring the decision makers to recall Steve Smith immediately and insisting on the star’s inclusion for the World Cup.
The 2015 World Cup-winning skipper has been left gobsmacked over the past fortnight regarding selection, with Australia playing around with their XI since returning from India.
In particular, Clarke called the decision to open with Cameron Green a “mistake”, given he is not at present in Australia’s World Cup squad, and said captain Aaron Finch should have been opening all along, with tinkering minimised so close to the tournament.
“They’ve made a mistake in not picking Cameron Green,” Clarke said on the Big Sports Breakfast. “It’s as simple as that.
“My only concern is they’ve been giving Cameron Green every opportunity, I don’t know why they haven’t given Steve Smith that opportunity.
“Steve Smith can open the batting in T20 cricket. He’s in the squad, he’s a big chance of playing in this World Cup so surely you need him batting, making runs (and) in form, at this stage Cameron Green’s not in the World Cup. That’s what has been a little strange.”
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Smith started the home season on fire, scoring runs against Zimbabwe before making a century against New Zealand.
He backed the innings by scoring 35 from 24 against India in the opening match of the away T20 series, but has yet to pass 20 in his past three knocks.
His rhythm may not have been helped by being left out of the first T20 against the West Indies last week while he was then left out of Australia’s XI against England in Perth despite travelling to West Australia.
Clarke slammed Smith’s treatment, believing the 33-year-old had plenty to give and was a vital cog in the side where he was more of a traditional batter surrounded by big-hitting all-rounders.
“Like, they took Steve Smith to Western Australia. Flew him to Perth to make him 12th man – that’s not right,” Clarke said.
“And don’t tell me Steve Smith has to bat No.3 or No.4.
“If he opens the batting, he will be the leading run-scorer in the T20 World Cup. He’s still that good a player.”
Clarke, who won two ODI World Cups and at times opened the batting and lost the T20 World Cup final in 2010, said Australia’s bowling attack took care of itself but the big selection headache remained who bats at No.4.
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The former Australian captain implored selectors to not turn their backs on Smith, believing T20 cricket required more than big hitters and said the ability for the right-hander to steer the side out of trouble could pay dividends for the match when they lose early wickets.
“The number four position is the unknown … who’s batting at four,” Clarke said.
“If it’s Smitty, you’ve got to give him some cricket. As good as he is, I’d rather him walk out in the first game in the first World Cup game with some form, with some runs under his belt.
“I think that’s the position that they’re unsure of at the moment and that’s really going to come down to the style.
“My reason always for (including) someone like a Steve Smith in your team is because not all conditions are the same, if we lose two for not many, you’ve got one of the world’s best batsmen coming in,” he said.
“Steve smith can save you a game as well, he can find you a way of getting to 170 and have a total to defend rather than being bowled out for 100.
“I still think in T20 cricket you need one of those players in your top six batsmen.”
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NRL great Laurie Daley said some players had a galvanising impact on others, and said removing someone with the aura of Smith could have a destabilising effect.
“I’ve spoken about this in footy, and I assume cricket is the same, when you look around the dressing shed or during a game, and you might be under the pump, but when you look around and you might have Steve Smith, Warner … you’re still confident but if you haven’t got that type of player in your team, you’re sitting back wondering if you can still win,” he responded to Clarke on the Big Sports Breakfast.
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Meanwhile, a bemused Clarke was surprised Finch had not opened the batting in recent matches, with Green instead afforded precious opportunities.
“Even playing around with Finchy, why’s he batting at number four if he’s going to open in the World Cup?” Clarke said. “That’s silly to me.
“Five games out from a World Cup, you’ve got to try and stabilise everything.”
Finch told Fox Cricket following Sunday’s eight run loss to England he is likely to return to the top of the order for the rest of the series against England.
