Michael Clarke at 4

[Big_Bad_Shark_Fan]

Watching him try to take the attack on to the bowlers when we were 2/0 pretty much sums him up. Hes more focused on trying to seem so cool, calm and collected and having an image as an attacking cricketer.

He had a great ashes series last year and a few good stints at Pakistan and New Zealand but this guy shouldnt be anywhere near 4. Put him back down to 6 where North is. 6 is the easiest position to bat and hence another reason North should not be there.

Yes its just a number, but ill give you another number.

Clarke, 18 innings at number 4, 1 score of 50+, 0 hundreds, with 13 scores below 15.

I know he will soon get a big score, like North, and somewhat justify it in the smallest. And I know he wants to bat 4, in fact id be suprised if he didnt push himself to 3 to replace Ponting.

 

[TheParraboy]

Watching him try to take the attack on to the bowlers when we were 2/0 pretty much sums him up. Hes more focused on trying to seem so cool, calm and collected and having an image as an attacking cricketer.

He had a great ashes series last year and a few good stints at Pakistan and New Zealand but this guy shouldnt be anywhere near 4. Put him back down to 6 where North is. 6 is the easiest position to bat and hence another reason North should not be there.

Yes its just a number, but ill give you another number.

Clarke, 18 innings at number 4, 1 score of 50+, 0 hundreds, with 13 scores below 15.

I know he will soon get a big score, like North, and somewhat justify it in the smallest. And I know he wants to bat 4, in fact id be suprised if he didnt push himself to 3 to replace Ponting.

He will score a big 26? :lol:

 

[beads6]

I'd like to see Clarke go back to 5, it is pretty clear for whatever reason number 4 is not his spot. There is no shame at batting 5 for your whole career Steve Waugh did it and I think Michael Clarke should to.

 

[hineyrulz]

And we all know Locky suggested this a while back??? :crazy:

 

[The 18th Man]

As per Beads6, no shame in being a great number five batsmen ala Steve Waugh. Let's get Clarke's back right and move him back to five.

 

[JJ]

hard to believe locky is right... but Clarke's innings yesterday was embarrassing for him... at 2/0 why on earth would you come out and play like that??? Surely that lack of regard for the situation is enough to say he shouldn't be captain either?

 

[Twizzle]

batting positions are ridiculously overrated

 

[yappy]

batting positions are ridiculously overrated

You would think so, but for some guys it just seems to make a huge difference. Waugh averaged mid to low 30s at 3/4 and mid to low 50s at 5/6. Langer averaged around 40 at 3 or lower, but 50 as an opener. Katich made a similarly stunning leap when moved to opener (50 as an opener, mid 30s down the list)

Conversely Dravid has a stunning record at 3, 4, 6 & 7 (5 not so much) move him up to open and it all falls to sh*t (relatively - 30 ave), Laxman is almost identical. And whilst he's had Dravid there most of the time, it does say something about his reluctance to go higher up the order that Tendulkar has never once batted at 3.

Guys just find their natural spot in the order. Obviously opening is a bit more of a specialist position, but really 3 shouldn't be that different, but there is something subtly different that makes brilliant 3s into gimps against the new ball. Even in the middle order 3, 4, 5 and 6 each have subtle differences. Some guys will make runs wherever you put them, some are more restricted in where they will succeed. Waugh was definitely one of these and I believe Clarke is similar. I have no doubt that if Clarke was back at 5 or 6 he would soon be back amongst them. Problem is now Hussey has regained some touch you'd be loathe to move him. The fact he is batting better now he's back at 5 might be just a coincidence, but the fact he averages 20 runs more at 5 than at 4 (66 v 46) suggests that it might not be all a coincidence.

Maybe swapping Clarke and North for a few games (I think North should be dropped, but I don't get to pick the side) might be worth a try. Who knows, coming in at 4 might just be what North needs?

 

[lockyno1]

You guys shot me down when I said it. Looks like I was right. Not the first time either. Clarke is your perfect 5, but he aint and never will be a no3 or 4!

 

[Marshall_magic]

When Clarke started out, he was going great guns, got bumped up to 4, then really struggled, and got dropped. It's almost as though the same thing is happening, he was going great at 5, why did we need to move him? If him and Huss swapped back for the Perth test I would have no dramas at all.

 

[lockyno1]

Agreed Marshall. Why change something that works!

Cue Twiz "batting positions are overrated rubbish"

 

[beads6]

I think Clarke is a good enough bat to be at 4 so lets just keep him there until the end of this series. If he wants to be Captain he will find some form and lead from the front. His back injury came at the worst possible time for him and Australian cricket.

 

[Big_Bad_Shark_Fan]

I honestly believe wants Ponting retires and MC takes over that he will be pushing for himself to bat 3 in tests, while opening in ODI and t20 sides

 

[beads6]

I honestly believe wants Ponting retires and MC takes over that he will be pushing for himself to bat 3 in tests, while opening in ODI and t20 sides

I reckon Khawaja will be 3 mate, possibly even Watson at 3.

 

[Twizzle]

Agreed Marshall. Why change something that works!

Cue Twiz "batting positions are overrated rubbish"

well Mr Dribbler, tell me where did Watson and Katich bat for their states ?

Just in case you dont know, Sunshine was 4/5 for Qld and Katich at 4 for the Blues

Hussey and North, 3 and 4 for WA

Haddin at 6 for NSW

Then there was Gilly and Junior in ODI cricket

I could go on

 

[aussies1st]

Hard to judge a player who doesn't look 100%. Still reckon he should have been rested from this game, he doesn't look his usual self, hard to tell much from the batting as he wasn't there for long but his fielding has been sub par.

 

[lockyno1]

well Mr Dribbler, tell me where did Watson and Katich bat for their states ?

Just in case you dont know, Sunshine was 4/5 for Qld and Katich at 4 for the Blues

Hussey and North, 3 and 4 for WA

Haddin at 6 for NSW

Then there was Gilly and Junior in ODI cricket

I could go on

Watson batted 3 for QLD when he made his highest FC score. He has always been a no3 or 4 at FC level, in other words a top order batsman. Clarke has always been a no5 batsman. Look how well playing North at 6 compared to 4 has got us..Haddin bats 6 or 7 no difference.

 

[TheParraboy]

And we all know Locky suggested this a while back??? :crazy:

I remember a few years ago, Locky saying Sunshine should be in our top 4 batting order, saying he he is and will be our best top order batsman. We all had a good long laugh, in amongst Sunshine breaking down plenty as well

But Lockynostradamus got that A1 perfectly correct

kudos to Locky and the hoover

 

[lockyno1]

Told you PB, Watson is our best bat at the moment. Mind you there needs to be a few changes to revamp the batting lineup.

 

[Twizzle]

Watson batted 3 for QLD when he made his highest FC score. He has always been a no3 or 4 at FC level, in other words a top order batsman. Clarke has always been a no5 batsman. Look how well playing North at 6 compared to 4 has got us..Haddin bats 6 or 7 no difference.

news flash, 3 isn't an opening batsman

North cant bat at 4, 5 or 6

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