5 possible replacements for Michael Clarke

The term ‘swag’ that is a part of common parlance today, was, I believe, described visually many years ago when a man named Michael John Clarke made his Test debut for Australia in 2004. Golden blonde beach hair, shiny ear studs, you would be excused for believing that Clarke got lost en route a rock concert and instead, landed with a baggy green on his head with a cricket bat in hand.But this was no accident. Clarke burst onto the international cricket scene in style scoring 151 against India in his debut match as well as returning with figures of 6 for 9 off 6.2 overs in the final test of the series. Though Australia lost the last match, Clarke was pivotal in helping them clinch the series 2-1, their first in 30 years. Clarke’s journey since then has seen him emerge as one of the modern greats of the game, though always missing out on elevating himself to the position of a Ricky Ponting or Sachin Tendulkar. Nevertheless, his flamboyant and assured style of play against pacers and spinners alike has led him to be the fourth highest run-getter in Tests for Australia.His dip in form and playing with a much-worn out and abused back sees Clarke retiring from all forms of the sport after the current Ashes series. While the selectors may have found a ready replacement in Steve Smith as the future captain, replacing Clarke the batsman is not going to be an easy task.With the axing of Brad Haddin and the imminent retirement of Chris Rogers, the Australian batting line-up is once again going to see a transition phase and we look at the possible replacements that could fill the gaping hole that Clarke is leaving behind.

#1 Glenn Maxwell

This swashbuckling all-rounder is quietly confident of a call into the Test team

Glenn Maxwell’s claim to fame has been his devastating, attacking game that has definitely sealed his place as one of the most destructive batsmen in the shorter forms of the game. His scintillating form in IPL 2014 playing for Kings XI Punjab saw him prove why he has earned the nickname – ‘Big Show’ and he also played a pivotal role in Australia’s World Cup winning campaign.

It was during this tournament that he scored his first ODI ton for the country smashing 102 run off 53 balls against Sri Lanka – hitting the fastest World Cup 50 by an Australian and equalling the third-fastest in tournament history.

He has till date played just three Test matches without having much of an impact. His inconsistent form and perceived lack of Test match temperament has seen him being overlooked by the selectors more often than not.

However, a successful county stint at Yorkshire, scoring 140 crucial in the team’s recently concluded Division One four-day match against Durham gaining him much praise from the critics of the game.

He came in at a time when Yorkshire’s scorecard read 79/5 his positive, clean hitting meant that by the time he was dismissed, the Yorks had reached a massive lead of 333 runs. This match and the fact that Maxwell has settled well into the Australian ODI and T20 teams means he is confident of getting a Test recall – a move that should work in Australia’s favour given that he is more than a handy spinner.

#2 George Bailey

The ‘Smiling Assassin’ Bailey must be hungry to prove his worth in the Test squad

Another Aussie cricketer who could benefit from his stint with the English county is former Australia T20 captain, George Bailey. The ‘Smiling Assassin’ as he is commonly called, Bailey’s has been a curious case since his debut.

His prominent performances for Tasmania in Australia’s first-class matches saw him make his international debut as captain of the national T20 team – only the second Australian player to captain an international game without having played in one before.

Bailey’s ODI career had more ups than down; none that could see him truly stamp his name in the team, though. His decision to step down from T20 captainship and take a break from the 20-over game to concentrate on first-class cricket is a hint the Australian selectors could look to pick on now.

With Clarke retiring, the middle-order needs an experienced hand and with Bailey wanting to desperately prove himself in the 5-day game, this could be the recall opportunity he was waiting for.

#3 Joe Burns

Joe Burns is an exciting young prospect for Australia

Amassing 1,357 runs in the last two Sheffield Shield seasons, Joseph Anthony “Joe” Burns is a name that has been doing the rounds of the Australian cricket for quite some time now. Considered unlucky to have missed out on an Ashes berth, Burns has only used the time on hand to send out further signals to the selectors on why he deserves to get a break into the national Test team.

With 228 runs to his name, he became the highest run-scorer in the one-day tri-series held in India also involving India A and South Africa A. His 131-ball 154 that included a stunning 14 sixes has caught the attention of the entire cricketing world, earning him a call into the Australian ODI team for the post-Ashes one-day series against England.

A versatile player, he has played for Queensland anywhere from the number one to six positions, and the batting prowess displayed by him on the Indian pitches during the recently concluded ‘A’ team series, could stand him in good stead if he is picked for the series against Bangladesh.

#4 Callum Ferguson

Callum Ferguson is hopeful for a Test recall after a fairly decent ‘A’ series for Australia

Having debuted for Australia in One Day Internationals in 2009 and with an average of 663 runs in 30 ODI innings at an average of 41.43, inconsistency had been South Australian Callum Ferguson’s biggest hurdle to cross when it came to receiving a call into the national test team, one that he seems to have rectified.

In the last two years, Ferguson has put in the efforts to show that he can play in the longer format of the game, scoring 836 first-class runs last season at an average of 52 that caught the eye of national selector Rodney Marsh, who roped him in the Australia A squad that played India A recently, saying, “Callum Ferguson has shown he has the capacity to bat for extended periods of time...” With a fairly decent India A tour, where he scored a half-century in the second 4-day ‘Test match’, Ferguson could just be called up for a place in the Test team.

#5 Usman Khawaja

Is it going to be second time lucky for Khawaja?

Much was expected from Pakistani-born, Australian left-hand batsman Usman Khawaja when he was first drafted into the Australian Test squad in 2011. However, with 377 runs in nine matches, the doors were temporarily shut on his Test career; a horrific knee injury only compounding his problems.

He came into the limelight once again after being the top run-getter in the Matador One Day Cup. He seems to have gained some faith of the selectors as he was named captain of the Australia A side and with 191 runs in the ODI series and having led the team splendidly, the Australian selectors must be hoping that the experience gained could be used to achieve bigger milestones now, given that Australia’s next Test series is against the rejuvenated and on-the-kill Bangladeshi side.

His weakness of not converting starts into big scores could be his downfall, though.

Replacing a player of the stature of Michael Clarke is no mean task and the road ahead for each of these players is in one word, uphill. However, each of them is hungry for success and wish to establish their place in the national Test squad and that is just the kind of attitude a highly demotivated Australian team needs right now.