George Bailey comfortable leading in Michael Clarke’s absence, admits he needs runs

SINCE George Bailey made his debut as skipper, he’s always felt like he’s warming the big chair for Clarke, but doesn’t believe it’s a thankless task.

Tasmanian cricketer George Bailey in the nets. Australian Cricket team training at Blundstone Arena, Bellerive ahead of their one day international match against England as part of the tri series.

AUSTRALIA is not Michael Clarke’s team and it’s not George Bailey’s team.

That’s the assertion of vice-captain Bailey, who is confident the focus of a unified Australian squad will ensure a potential leadership minefield won’t impact on his mindset or on Australia’s World Cup hopes.

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Bailey could be on a hiding to nothing by being handed the captaincy reins in Clarke’s absence for the tournament opener on February 14.

That’s due to the fact that if Clarke passes his fitness deadline the following week, Bailey could find himself squeezed out of the first-choice XI altogether.

Since Bailey made his debut as skipper on the 11th of January 2013, he’s captained Australia on 26 occasions compared to Clarke’s 18 appearances as captain.

But despite the amount of time he’s spent in the big chair, Bailey has always felt like he’s warming it for an injured or rested Clarke.

Michael Clarke with George Bailey during Australian training at the SCG. Pic: Phil Hillyard

It’s never been his team.

Clarke was in the SCG nets talking to Bailey again on Sunday and will continue to be around the squad as he races the clock to make his way back from hamstring surgery.

However, Bailey doesn’t believe he’s been handed a thankless task and is comfortable that no man is bigger than the Australian one-day squad — not Clarke, not himself and not the other leader in the mix, Steve Smith.

“I don’t think it’s Michael’s team or my team. I think it’s our team at the moment,” said Bailey yesterday.

“To Michael’s credit, when he hasn’t played, he’s certainly allowed it to be my team.

“A lot of the tours where it’s happened overseas and he’s still been there — it’s probably difficult for him to step back.

“But (the fact he has), that’s really helped me.

“… I’m pretty collaborative in the way I try and approach things. We’ve got guys in our squad who have played the same role, who have played a lot of cricket.”

Although the captaincy issue complicates things, the simple fact is Bailey needs runs — and admits so himself.

After a landmark campaign in India in 2013 where he averaged 95.6 — Bailey has averaged 36, 25, 15, 25 in his most recent ODI series.

George Bailey with coach Darren Lehmann at the SCG nets.

So far in this tri-series against India and England he has made scores of 5 and 10.

With Australia assured of a place in the final on February 1, Bailey still has plenty of time to find form — even though it could all be to no avail if Clarke returns.

Bailey certainly isn’t over thinking the challenge ahead of him.

“I know you guys love writing about it, but if I’m not scoring runs and they pick him (Clarke), that’s fine, that’s the nature of the game,” he said.

“You’re scoring runs or you’re not scoring runs — you get picked or you don’t. It’s a really basic equation.

“If Pup’s there, one of the batsmen makes way. If it’s me or someone else, that’s how it is.

“I’m very, very comfortable.”

Bailey says captaining Australia is an honour he doesn’t take lightly, regardless of the circumstances.

“It gives you a unique opportunity to share the success of others.”

Meanwhile, Indian counterpart MS Dhoni refused to rule out retiring from one-day cricket following the World Cup — saying he’s yet to cross that bridge.

“No, not now,” he said.

“My Test retirement has really excited you,” said Dhoni of his bizarre decision to walk away from Test cricket via a press release.