Ashes humiliation forces Clarke to quit as Australia’s T20 captain
By ANIFriday, January 7, 2011
SYDNEY - Michael Clarke has quit as Australia’s Twenty20 skipper in order to find batting form, in the aftermath of the humiliating Ashes defeat.
Australia were dismissed for 281 this morning as England celebrated an historic 3-1 series win, and for the first time in history Australia lost three matches in a series by more than an innings.
Victorian skipper Cameron White was appointed captain of Australia for two T20 games against England next week, with Tasmanian wicketkeeper Tim Paine his deputy.
Just as Ricky Ponting gave up Twenty20 after the 2009 Ashes loss to focus on his Test career, Clarke has followed due to his poor form in this series.
Clarke will now hold no full-time captaincy position, with Ponting expected to return from injury to lead the one-day and Tests teams.
Clarke, who captained for the first time in a Test match, again failed to produce the big score required to save his team.
He has struggled with his batting since being promoted from No.5 to No.4 in the batting order.
Cricket Australia refused to comment on Clarke’s decision but it will be made official at a press conference.
Clarke assumed the captaincy of the Twenty20 side after Ponting retired from that team immediately after losing the Ashes 2-1 in England in August 2009. (ANI)
