Chappell says Clarke cannot “visualise a batting order”.
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Ian Chappell has questioned whether Australian skipper Michael Clarke knows how to formulate a batting lineup.
Chappell, a former Australian captain himself, said he couldn’t believe Clarke recently said he was not sure whether Shane Watson was a top-order batsman.
Speaking at Channel Nine’s launch for its summer of cricket, Chappell said Watson was a top three batsman and that Clarke should be thinking likewise.
“One thing that does bother me about Michael Clarke is his inability to visualise a batting order,” Chappell said.
“I don’t know whether he doesn’t understand how important a batting order is.
“If you’ve got the side that you had in the 1990s, early 2000s, it probably doesn’t matter what order you bat them in.
“But if you’ve got a side that is struggling with its batting line-up then you better get them in the right order.
“And I can’t believe the quote I saw from Michael the other day when he was asked about the Shane Watson batting in the top order or batting at three and he said ‘oh not so sure about the top order’.
“Shane Watson is the number three as far as I’m concerned and if Chris Rogers isn’t up to the mark I’d also think about him being an opener perhaps.”
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