As expected, although not without reservations, Michael Clarke has been appointed as captain of both Australia's test and one-day teams. Cameron White remains captain of the 20/20 side, while Shane Watson has been appointed deputy across all three formats. All three players, along with Ricky Ponting, were named in the Australian one-day team to tour Bangladesh. The selectors were left with little option than to appoint Clarke, and now must hope that his form remains good enough to keep him firmly in both sides. At least for long enough for Shane Watson to be seen as a viable alternative. Clarke endured a less than stellar Ashes series (193 at 21.44), although his recent one-day form has been somewhat better. As I wrote yesterday, the pairing of Clarke and Watson may be something less than a dream team, but the selectors have played their best hand, despite their increasingly vocal opponents' howls of protest.
The side to tour Bangladesh is:
Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Xavier Doherty, Callum Ferguson, Brad Haddin, John Hastings, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Tim Paine, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith, Cameron White
David Hussey can count himself as supremely unlucky to miss out, while the man he replaced in the team for the India game, Steve Smith makes the team. White is probably lucky to be going as well, no doubt helped by his captaincy position in the 20/20 side. Certainly, Watson wouldn't be short of advice if he had to fill in for Clarke, with Ponting and White both in the side.
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