Michael Clarke lashes out at ACB after withdrawal of Steve Smith

Former Australia skipper Michael Clarke has lashed out at the Australian selectors for allowing incumbent skipper Steve Smith to withdraw from the ongoing ODI series against Sri Lanka. Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka has been nothing short of shambolic thus far. After having been thrashed out of sight in the Test series 3-0, Australia has now lost the second ODI after having made a statement by winning the first ODI.

Although Smith has been rather consistent with the bat, he will be handing over the captaincy to opener David Warner who will lead the side for the following the 26-year old’s withdrawal from arms. Although many expected Aaron Finch to step into the role, it is clear that the latter would have refused to do so. However, in a series of tweets, Michael Clarke has stated that he is most certainly irritated by the fact that Steve Smith is allowed to take a break from cricketing affairs at the moment to prepare for upcoming tours in Australia.

In the same breath if Smithy needed a break then he should have flown home after the Test matches not 2x ODIs in. https://t.co/i0WEWqOVe7

— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) August 25, 2016

I would of liked to have seen the captain play until the series was won and then have a rest. https://t.co/i0WEWqOVe7

— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) August 25, 2016

Speaking about Steve Smith’s role in the side, Clarke stated that he certainly did not expect this sort of headline from the captain of the team. “I hate missing cricket, but in the long run, it will do me the world of good. The schedule is very busy. I still want to take on the role in all three formats and do it to the best of my ability,” Smith said.  “Even when we’re winning I’m constantly thinking about cricket, specifically about things that I could have done differently while batting. I always reflect at the end of the series and work out what I did well and what I didn’t do well.”

“I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t replayed my dismissals from this series over and over in my head when I’ve been alone in my hotel room,” he said.

Also read – Nathan Coulter-Nile heading home due to back injury

Pakistan is scheduled to tour Australia soon after in the summer before the Aussies, once again led by the charismatic Steve Smith when they go on perhaps their biggest challenge. While the 3-0 thrashing will certainly be a massive blemish on the beautiful canvas that is indeed Australian cricket, their true test of courage will come on the tour of India, something they will be expected to perform in should they want to keep their place in the squad. Moreover, the fact of the matter also remains that they have been quite poor in the subcontinent on previous tours.