This never happens in subcontinent

[sanz]

Originally Posted by Beny

The point is that clarke's debut has been a long time coming and even now he may have to lose his spot once ponting comes back. Lehman is a fantastic player no-doubt but Clarke is somebody who is going to be a Ricky Ponting like player. It is expected that one day he will be captian and we hope to also get another 10-12 years out of the young guy.

Aren't you over-hyping Michael Clark's talent ?? I dont think Clark is going to captain australia in next 10 years. Ricky ponting is very young so is Gilchrist and IMO Simon Katich is a better test player than Clark. Clark should earn his place rather than Lehman offering him on a platter.

[Zainub]

You have a point, Lehman fans will argue Clarke has just played the sole test match and often people who make big hundreds on debut don't exactly see a fairy tale ending - but the fact that Lehman him self has so much faith in the young man's talents that he's willing to give up his place in the side to see him prosper is something of an indication in it self.

The argument here is not weather Clarke deserves to get all the talk he is getting but that it is pleasant rarity for international cricket to contemplate hanging up his boots to give other more talented more promissing contendors a chance. That's not about fast tracking Clarke ahead of others - it's about being big hearted and brave and accept that when you are 35 you will probably not be the selecotor's fav choice. Even if Clarke doesn't go on to propsper at the test level, that is something debatable, I'm sure there will be others who will be ready to grab to that spot left vacent by Lehman.

[sanz]

I am neither a Darren Lehman fan nor a Michael Clark fan. All this talk about Lehman having lot of faith in Clark's talent etc doesn't really go that well with me. I dont buy that. IMO it seems that Lehman has seen what is coming especially after what happened to Michael Bevan in ODIs. Lehman is just trying to save himself from the humiliation. Lehman doesn't own his position in this team and since he doesn't own it how can he offer it to Clark. If Clark continues his form, Lehman will be out of the team anyway. And I personally feel that it was a cheapshot by Lehman. IMO he is threatened by Clark's performance and probably given up and If I am incharge I wouldn't want him in my team.

[Zainub]

I don't think that Lehman "does not own his own place in the side". Let's not forget he came into the series being tipped Australia's best player of spin bowling , and Clarke has been pressing for a place in the side ever since he made his successful ODI debut - if Lehman's position was as you say not his Clarke would have got into the side right away, that didn't happen, did it? It's only after that sparkling debut from Clarke that everyone including Lehman him self has been calling shots as his career.

[Nikhil]

Even if Lehmann is the best player of spin in the Aussie team, his place is the most vulnerable.

Let's look at this:
1. The first three, Hayden, Langer and Ponting are not going to be replaced.
2. Martyn is in great form, is younger and has been playing for a long time. No way will they replace him with Clarke, without any reason
3. It only leaves us with either Lehmann or Katich. Katich being a younger player and equally measured against spin, will stay. Add to it, he can be a number three at times and do a bit of bowling.

Therefore, Lehmann was the person who was most likely to make way. He has done it easier for the selectors, but I will take this with a grain of salt. It's not all appreciation for a younger bloke, there is a bit of fear-of-humiliation factor as well.

[Zainub]

I don't think he is most vulnerable player in their line up - why would they apoint him vice captain if they thought his place in the side was vulnerable. Going into this test series if anyone at all was at risk losing his place to Clake it was in my opinion Simon Katich, and not Darren Lehman.

[sanz]

Zainub, In the recently concluded Australia-Sri Lanka Test Series(in SL) neither Katich nor Clark were the automatic choices and infact it was Andrew Symonds who was given the chance, In the Aus-SL series in Aus where Ponting didn't play in first test, it was Mathew Elliott who was called and not Clarke, India Australia series Katich was picked ahead of him, So I dont really think that Clarke has been pressing for a place in this test side. His selection has more to do with his success against Indian spinners in ODIs. And I can guarntee you that If Lehman fails in next couple of matches, he will not selected for the next series or may even be dropped from 4th test. Whereas same can not be said for Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Martyn, Gilchrist. Martyn once went more than 2 years and 15+ tests without a century and still kept his place in the test. I dont think Lehman has that Luxury at least not now.

And no I dont think Katich is going anywhere in thise series, He will retain his place in this team. Look at his recent scores against India 16, 75, 31, 29, 125, 77*, 81, 39, 36* at an avg. of 78 runs per innings. It is very likely that it will either Clarke or Lehman who will have to sit out after Ponting's return in this series and looking at their scores (Lehman 17, 14 & 0 and Clarke 151, 17 & 5), it looks like an easy choice to me.

[Zainub]

Pressing for selection didn't mean to imply he actually got a call up,I don't know if you know, but the Aussie selectors did as a matter of fact receive some stick from there press for not picking Clarke for either of Aus's series against India at home and away.

You have a point about Katich though, I just think I'm stuck at the view the Lehman was being nice, actually Sanz, I get really excited when any cricketer tries, even pretends to be nice - it so much a rarity given the intensity and competetivness of moder day sport Sanz, that I tend to get over excited at every potentially "nice" guesture.

[Beny]

Sanz, you havent heard the hype that is being generated by this kid from sources who know their stuff. Clarke is going to be a superstar. The people who are hyping him up are the same people who were hyping Ponting up at 18 years of age. In fact they are also saying that Clarke is the best young batsmen they have seen since Ponting and after watching him I agree.

BTW Ponting is almost 30 years old so I wouldent call him young.

At the end of the day the point is that the batsmen in this team are all from the same generation. What is going to happen when we have a mass retierment of these blokes??

We need to make sure that we have seasoned players such as Clarke, Ponting and Katich to make up for the loss of players such as Hayden, Langer, Martyn, Lehman, Gilly, Warne, McGrath ect...
Then we can bring in some of the other guys like Hodge, Hussy brothers and Other players who will make their mark in State Cricket, to make a team which is still good enough to play world cricke

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Beny

BTW Ponting is almost 30 years old so I wouldent call him young.

True, he is no spring chicken!

In general though, there is no reason why Ponting and Hayden can not carry on playing till their late 30s... if Gooch can do it, why can't these guys is they are still good enough...