Michael Clarke rips apart Australian selectors for replacing Steve Smith with Cameron Green in first T20I against West Indies

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke launched a scathing attack on the Australian selectors for including all-rounder Cameron Green in place of Steve Smith in the opening match of the two-match T20I series against the West Indies. Steve Smith is a part of Australia’s 20-20 World Cup squad while Green isn’t.

Australia won the opening match against the Caribbean side by three wickets in Gold Coast on Thursday with Green scoring just 14 as the opener. Clarke was a member of the ODI World Cup-winning side in 2007 and later led Australia’s victorious campaign at the 2015 event at home. He indicated that Cricket Australia’s (CA) selection was going astray ahead of the 20-20 World Cup at home.

“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 T20 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.

Aaron Finch demoted himself to allow Green to open

In addition to Smith being dropped, skipper Aaron Finch, who opens the batting, came in to bat at no.4. However, Finch later clarified that it was his decision to drop down the order so Green could bat at the top. The Australian all-rounder, recently, caught the eye following two half-centuries in the three-match T20I series in India.

The game against West Indies also saw Mitchell Marsh return to the setup only as a batter. Meanwhile, Marcus Stoinis will return for the three-match T20I series against England in Perth from October 9. Coming back to the match, Australia won the game by three wickets as they chased down the target of 146 with one ball to spare. Aaron Finch starred with the bat, scoring 58 off 53 balls.