Sport Today

Lets keep the perspective correct here. The Indian batsmen have not
been really tested in this series. On pitches which negate fast
bowling (and all 4 basically were like that in varying degrees) what
the opposition needed were world class spinners to trouble the Indian
batsmen. I mentioned this BEFORE the series even began. Continously
said this during the first match. (This is for the idiots who claim I
say things later). In the end we really didn't get to see a "test" of
skills. Lyon is by no means a great spinner. He is improving but he
lacks the variety and consistency to trouble the Indian batsmen to the
extent of world class spinners who would have really bamboozled our
batsmen on these pitches. He took wickets but on these pitches what is
needed is taking wickets and giving away very few runs. Two such
spinners and the Indians would have had a tough time getting runs in
all the test matches in this series. As I mentioned right in the very
begginning of the series England had it and Australia didn't. To add
to the worries of the Aussies their batsmen ***ed up big time. I
wrote a blog before and I'll repeat it here. When was the last time
Australia had 4 batsmen averaging in thier 30's in the top 6. Even if
Clarke comes in the team in place of Smith I believe you still have 4
batsmen averaging in thier 30's in the top 6. When was the last time
an Aussie team had such a weak batting line up. Especially amongst
their top 6. With a better batting line up they would have still lost
the series but at least it may not have been a whitewash. And
obviously with better spinners the series could have been more
exciting. So, the Aussies have problems but their bigger problems are
with the batting. Thier bowling outside of Indian conditions is still
okay. But thier batting looks quite weak.

Why would Clarke replace Smith. He should replace Watson or Little Phil.
May be that's why Watson made Maxwell open.

I am taking the first test match as the example. From the start Hughes
and Watson were playing with Clarke. Watson was dropped due to
indiscipline but in the first test match you had all 3 playing. Smith
is not a certainty in the eleven but apparently (indiscipline reasons
apart) Watson and Hughes are more a certainty than Smith. So, I assume
these two would still be there with Clarke in the team. Its Smith who
seems to be uncertain of a place in the eleven. Hopefully that would
change but as of now that is how it stands.  :)