AUS vs WI: Michael Clarke slams selectors for picking Cameron Green over Steve Smith for 1st T20I
India Today
Michael Clarke has slammed the selectors for picking Cameron Green over Steve Smith in the first T20I against West Indies. Smith has now been included in the lineup for the second T20I.
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has slammed the selectors for picking Cameron Green over Steve Smith in the team lineup for the first T20I match against West Indies.
Green has caught the eye of everyone with his top performance in the series against India recently. However, the all-rounder isn't part of the T20 World Cup squad while Smith is.
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. He said that the former Australian captain needs to be playing every match to get ready for the upcoming tournament.
“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," Clarke was quoted as saying on the Big Sports Breakfast.
“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. 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 it if it means you play one bowler short in these games, I still think you’ve got to allow your players to play," added Clarke.
Clarke also said that the management should be backing the players who are in the squad for the T20 World Cup.