The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Clarke can’t explain Ponting’s tactics

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Clarke can’t explain Ponting’s tactics

Melbourne: The Australian cricket team is in disarray and the struggling side’s woes become quite apparent when vice-captain Michael Clarke says he cannot explain the logic behind some tactical decisions taken by skipper Ricky Ponting during the ongoing Test series against South Africa.

The visitors are on the verge of humiliating the Aussies in their own backyard, on course for a second win in the three-Test series and as the World champion grapple to explain their astonishing slump, it seems the communication within the team is breaking down.

At the end of third day’s play, Clarke was asked as to why all-rounder Andrew Symonds was not introduced into the bowling attack until the 125th over of South Africa’s first innings. His reply was a stunning, “I have no idea.”

“I guess you’d probably have to ask Ricky that,” he was quoted as saying by The Sydney Morning Herald.

On being questioned on why Simon Katich’s wrist spin was not used against the South African tail-enders, who went on to add 275 runs to the total, Clarke again shirked: “...probably another question for the skip. I don’t make the bowling selections.” — PTI

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