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Sydney, Jan.24 (ANI): Australia is spending too much time thinking about captaincy and too little thinking about runs, feels cricket columnist Peter Roebuck.

In an article for the Sydney Morning Herald, Roebuck claimed that the Australian cricket tradition of choosing their best team and then selecting the leader from among them, was not being given the same importance as in the past.

He said that he could not understand the debate raging about Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and other captaincy candidates.

“Australia has been the strongest of the cricketing nations. Other countries have had their periods but overall the Aussies have ruled the roost. All the more reason to take heed of established custom,” Roebuck said.

“Before choosing the next Test captain, the Aussies ought first to pick their next team. If places can be found for Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke, then discussion can turn to their relative merits as leaders. Until that day dawns the selectors have nothing to think about in that regard,” he adds.

He also used the column to highlight Clarke’s failure as a batsman, and suggested that he has been taking “risks and relying on a power he does not possess.”

In Roebuck’s opinion, only two players, Shane Watson and Brett Lee, are consistently providing leadership.

“Happily, both deserve their places in the side. Had proper support been provided, Lee’s spell should have been decisive. After all, England batted abysmally, throwing wickets in a manner that told of a team tired of the road,” said Roebuck.

Australia needs to stop worrying about captaincy and start thinking about identifying its best top-order batsmen, he concludes. (ANI)