Clarke returns to steady Australia
SYDNEY (AFP) –
Moises Henriques plays a shot during a Champions League game between the Chennai Super Kings and his Sydney Sixers in Johannesburg on October 14, 2012. Henriques is the latest newcomer to get his chance for Australia’s one-day team after a thrashing by Sri Lanka and an ear-bashing over selection policy from former stars.
Skipper Michael Clarke returned to the one-day squad to lead Australia after a thrashing by Sri Lanka and an ear-bashing over selection policy from former stars.
Quick bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc were also brought back in after being withdrawn as a precaution to protect niggling minor injuries.
Opener David Warner and keeper Matthew Wade completed the list of big guns coming back after a rest for the third and fourth one-dayers in Brisbane on Friday and Sydney on Sunday.
National selector John Inverarity also unveiled Moises Henriques as the latest newcomer to get his chance.
“Moises Henriques also comes into the squad as a genuine all-rounder whose bowling will be suited to conditions often found at the Gabba,” Iverarity said.
Australia batsman Phillip Hughes (R) and captain George Bailey (L) run between the wickets during the first one-day international against Sri Lanka on January 11, 2013. Hughes was the only member of the Test XI who played in Adelaide, in the second one-day international.
“Moises is a young man who has shown promise for some years with both the bat and the ball. This will be an opportunity for him to impress as we look for a good seam bowling all-rounder.”
The selection policy came in for stinging criticism Monday after a second-string side were dismissed for 170 leaving Sri Lanka to win at a canter by eight wickets with 59 balls remaining at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday night.
Phillip Hughes was the only member of the Test XI who played in Adelaide.
The tabloid Sydney Telegraph called the selectors “trigger happy”, adding “Australia’s controversial rotation policy appeared to affect the national team’s performance in last night’s defeat.”
Australia did put Sri Lanka to the sword in the opening match of the five-game series in Melbourne on Friday with a 107-run victory.
But coach Mickey Arthur sensed the mood after Sunday’s thrashing and went on the attack.
He said he was “sick and tired” of misinformation that Australia has a pace bowling rotation policy after using 10 quicks this southern summer.
“It’s either very naive or just a little bit stubborn that people don’t understand what we’re doing,” Arthur said.
“The example I have used is Black Caviar, when he goes and runs a horse race, if they don’t feel he’s 100 per cent right, they don’t release it.
“We have done that with our bowlers.
“We want to play our guys all the time, with the amount of cricket we play these days it’s impossible to keep the guys on the park every single game,” he said.
“The constant thought that sports scientists are picking the team is so far way off the mark it’s frightening.
“Whenever we make those decisions, we make those decisions with a lot of thought into how we are going to use that quick bowler and when we are going to use that quick bowler.”
Former fast bowler Geoff Lawson called Monday for Australia to field their best team, while Brett Lee has hit out at the rotation policy as cheapening the value of an Australia cap.
Former skipper Ian Chappell charged Cricket Australia with creating “more confusion than an algebra test”.
Steve Rixon will take over the head coach’s role in Brisbane while Arthur returns to South Africa to spend time with his family before flying back Saturday.
The final match in the ODI series takes place on January 23 in Hobart.
Australian 12-man squad named Monday for the third and fourth one-day internationals:
Australia: Michael Clarke (capt), George Bailey, Xavier Doherty, Moises Henriques, Phillip Hughes, David Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.