Former Australian skipper, Michael Clarke has come hard on the selectors for picking Cameron Green over Steve Smith in the squad for the first T20I match against West Indies. Green earned a lot of limelight with his fiery performance in the series against India recently. Speaking on Big Sports Breakfast, as quoted by News18, Clarke said that the selectors are shooting themselves in the foot at the moment by picking Green over Smith.
Explaining the same, Michael Clarke said, “My theory is this, Mitch Marsh wasn’t bowling so they had to pick Cameron Green over Steve Smith to give us an extra bowling option but what they’re (selectors) doing is shooting themselves in the foot at the moment. The most important thing right now is we prepare for this World Cup so Steve Smith’s form in Twenty20 cricket over the last couple of years hasn’t been as good as he would like.”
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He further added, “He’s got to play. He’s got to play and he’s got to own his role, is he going to bat 4, is he going to bat 3? You’ve got to let him play, so even if it means you play one bowler short in these games, I still think you’ve got to allow your players to play.”
Former Australia skipper aid that the management should be backing the cricketers who are in the squad for the T20 World Cup.
Michael Clarke explained, “If Marcus Stoinis is fit, he’s in the World Cup squad If Stoinis is fit then Cameron Green can’t come into the squad, so that’s their plan A. If Stoinis is not fit then Cameron Green will come into the squad, so they’re trying to have their cake and eat it — OK while’s Stoinis isn’t playing get Cameron Green some cricket and bring him in but what they’re doing is burning Smithy (Steve Smith) by doing that because he’s not getting any cricket.”
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He concluded, “(It looks as if) if Cameron Green is in the squad he will be in the starting XI. That tells me they’ve made a mistake. They should have picked him in the squad. Again, with Mitch Marsh, they want him to bat at number 3, so Smith is going to be the one to bat at number 4, let him play these games, let him play every game so he goes into the World Cup at his best.”
