MICHAEL CLARKE'S tenure as Australia's 20-over captain could be finished, with the heavy defeat to England in the final of the World Twenty20 exposing his batting as the team's biggest flaw.
Cameron White has the numbers to take over from Clarke. Not the numbers in the back room - yet - but the statistics that show he is in a different class when it comes to batting in the shortest format.
White has led his state side, Victoria, to the Big Bash title, winning four of the past five championships. Clarke has never played a domestic Twenty20 game for NSW, nor has he featured in the Indian Premier League, and is clearly lacking practice in scoring quickly.
Clarke has conceded his position must come under review following Australia's seven-wicket loss to Paul Collingwood's side. He finished with 92 runs in the tournament at 15.33. White scored 180 runs at 45, with a strike rate of 146.34 compared with Clarke's strike rate of 80.7.
It is a difficult consideration for selectors because of Clarke's astute leadership and excellent winning record as captain. But he is not holding his place in the Twenty20 team as a batsman, where the orthodoxy of his technique - a great asset in the longer forms - is proving a weakness.
Clarke's performances in the three World Twenty20s so far have yielded 108 runs at an average of 10.8, with a dawdling strike rate of 77.14. His overall record in international T20s is 437 runs at 21.85 in 31 matches. White, by contrast, has played only 20 games for Australia, but has more runs - 481 - at a superior average of 43.72 and an excellent strike rate of 148.45.
Clarke is a popular leader, receiving support throughout the campaign from teammates and staff, but his run out of David Warner in the decider seemed a direct result of him frantically attempting to rotate the strike when tied down by the subtle swing and disciplined lengths of England's new-ball duo, Tim Bresnan and Ryan Sidebottom.
''There is no doubt the selectors will need to have a look at my performances,'' said Clarke, who nearly ran out Brad Haddin and David Hussey as well.
''I certainly know they haven't been up to scratch and as good as I would've expected throughout this whole tournament, and probably Twenty20 cricket in general.
''I'm sure the selectors will have a look and if I'm not the right person for the No.3 position and the captaincy of this team they'll make that decision.''
White was predictably diplomatic when quizzed about taking over the leadership in light of Clarke's comments. ''If that's what Michael thinks, that's what he's thinking,'' White said. ''I'm in no position to think about selection. All I can do is make sure I'm doing well and the team's doing well and playing my part for the team and supporting Michael as vice-captain as well.''
Sunday's defeat was Clarke's second loss in 15 games as Australia's T20 skipper, with the previous defeat coming against New Zealand in a super-over eliminator.
''You can't argue too much with that, can you?'' White said.
Meanwhile, victorious captain Paul Collingwood cited that rarest of English traits - self-belief - as a key factor in their triumph.
Collingwood's men reduced an Australian side previously unbeaten at the tournament to 3-8 and then held them to a total of 6-147. England won in convincing fashion, by seven wickets with three overs to spare, after a commanding second-wicket stand of 111 between man-of-the-match Craig Kieswetter (63) and man-of-the-tournament Kevin Pietersen (47).
''I think belief has been a huge thing - you can see from the way the guys have gone out from first ball, believing in themselves and taking it to the opposition and playing a brand of cricket that is unlike England in the past,'' Collingwood said.
England had never won a major one-day tournament, having lost in the 1979, 1987 and 1992 World Cup finals as well as falling in the climax of the 2004 Champions Trophy.
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