Australia's regular vice captain Adam Gilchrist is sulking after the selectors
ignored him and handed the captaincy reins to youngster Michael Clarke
for Tuesday's Twenty20 match against New Zealand in Perth.
Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch admitted the decision to make Clarke leader
of the twenty20 side could not please Gilchrist but claimed the star stumper-batsman
realised it was necessary to plan for the future.
"It is a matter we discussed at length. We recognise it is a great honour
to represent your country..." Hilditch was quoted as saying by 'The Age'.
"Adam is of the view he would like to be captaining his
country but is pleased with the initiative. It is important we have forward
planning," he said.
Hilditch said anointing Clarke was part of Cricket Australia's
long-term plans, especially for the 2009 Twenty20 World Cup.
"It is a long-term initiative, to make sure we have strong leadership
whenever Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and, for that matter, Michael
Hussey are no longer with Australian cricket," he said.
"He (Clarke) certainly has all the credentials. This is seen as an ideal
opportunity in a new form of the game for him to express his individuality and
learn how to lead the side," Hilditch said.
Meanwhile, though he has been tipped as a captaincy material
for quite a while, Clarke said he was "shocked" when Hilditch asked
him to lead the twenty20 side.
Clarke said when he got the call from Hilditch, he was afraid
that it was to inform him that he had been dropped from the Twenty20 squad.
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