Cricket World Cup 2015: George Bailey should make way for Michael Clarke, says Ian Chappell

SHANE Watson’s spot will be called into question eventually but for now Michael Clarke should replace George Bailey, according to Ian Chappell.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 14: Shane Watson of Australia looks dejected after being dismissed by Stuart Broad of England for a golden duck during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup match between England and Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground on February 14, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

FORGET the debate over who misses out, the pressure will be on Michael Clarke to show he has the body to now remain in.

That’s the view of former Test skipper Ian Chappell who says Saturday’s clash against Bangladesh is crunch time for Clarke to prove whether his fitness will sustain and allow him to continue on as captain after the World Cup.

Clarke’s dedicated recovery from hamstring surgery has been convincing to say the least, but the acid test was always going to come in his return to the international stage in Brisbane.

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Michael Clarke (L) was relegated to water boy duties on Saturday.

Chappell is adamant George Bailey and not Shane Watson should be axed to make way.

But while Watson remains a key man for now, Chappell admits that assurance may only last as long as fellow all-rounder James Faulkner is out injured.

Despite the speculation it’s causing, Chappell says Rod Marsh and Darren Lehmann are bringing the skipper back at exactly the right time, for Clarke’s sake and the team’s.

“I think it’s a sensible move to bring Clarke in for the Bangladesh game,” said Chappell.

“If (injury) looks like it’s going to be an ongoing thing, they need to find that out sooner rather than later.

“And if he breaks down in a game against Bangladesh, it’s not going to hurt you.

“It’s something that needs to be resolved, and better it’s resolved against Bangladesh than one of the major nations.”

Shane Warne says Clarke’s hamstring surgery has gone so well he could play for years to come and it seems the Australian medical staff are also quietly optimistic.

Certainly Clarke has earned the right to be given Australia’s full backing.

But first the successful captain and star batsman must end a recent trend of breaking down, an unfortunate series of events that had an emotional skipper himself reflecting on his own mortality after the Adelaide Test.

George Bailey had a good game against England but knows he’s in the firing line. Picture: Wayne Ludbey.

Whatever the outcome against Bangladesh, the home nation’s World Cup campaign will be better for it, with Chappell convinced Australia needs a captain who is physically dependable.

“Clarke is a great captain and a great player, but an important part of captaincy is you’ve got to be dependable physically, and you’ve got to be there if not 100 per cent, then 98 per cent of the time,” he said.

A fighting 55 for Bailey in the World Cup opener against England, and Watson’s golden duck in the same innings – has made the issue of who should make way for Clarke a talking point.

Chappell says there are structural reasons why Watson should stay.

Taking Watson out of No.3 could change the dynamic of a batting order that’s proved effective for so long.

Shane Watson’s position in the side has been called into question. Picture: Wayne Ludbey.

“Sure, Watson’s position has got to come into question sooner or later, but I think he’s a good enough player that he’ll get some runs and what he also brings is he’s a slip catcher and he’ll give you some overs. All of that adds up to a better package than what Bailey can bring,” said Chappell.

“The one thing about having Warner, Finch Watson at one two and three is they’re very powerful strikers and they can go from the outset.

“If that all goes pear shaped and they lose two or three quick wickets very quickly, you’ve got Clarke and Steve Smith coming in — both proper batsmen who can resurrect an innings.

“Then you follow that up with Maxwell, Faulkner, Haddin and Johnson.

“I like that structure of a batting order.”