Shane Watson Defends Michael Clarke as Australian Fans Give Him Rap over Runs

Even as the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 looms large with Australian cricket team selections around the corner, the Australian fans are already voicing their concerns in some strong ways, even to stun the visitors, even though Shane Watson helped them win the first ODI. None seems in more trouble than Michael Clarke, the current Australian vice captain.

michael clarke shane watson

Realizing the onus of responsibilities of him and the fact that his cricket career was not really taking off in the Twenty20 version, Michael Clarke finally gave up the Australian Twenty20 captain position to rightful owner, Cameron White.

Now with Ricky Ponting having burnt his fingers thrice through the Ashes, the Australian captaincy is poised for a change notwithstanding Australia's performance in the forthcoming World Cup. However, Clarke seems to be increasingly falling out with Australian critics, former cricketers and even fans as they expressed their dissatisfaction at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the first England Australia ODI.

Although Shane Watson helped Australia overhaul England's huge total with an amazingly devastating knock of 161, his partner for a while at the crease, Clarke did not get the crowds revved up. Instead Clarke was at the receiving end of jeers and boos so loud and so dramatic that it took some of the England cricketers, including the England captain Andrew Strauss, aback. Clarke appeared to crawl by Watson's standards and the crowd vented what they thought of Clarke's efforts even though Watson defended the Australian stand-in captain as stating that he was doing his rightful job of dropping anchor. The crowd certainly did not see it that way, particularly after Australia lost the Ashes.