Australian cricket team captain Michael Clarke (L) gathers with Australian Cricket World Cup-winning captains
Australian cricket team captain Michael Clarke (L) gathers with Australian Cricket World Cup-winning captains (2nd L-R) Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh and Allan Border as they pose with their previous World Cup trophies to mark the 100-day countdown to the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Sydney November 6, 2014. New Zealand and Australia will co-host the Cricket World Cup in 14 cities beginning February 14. REUTERS/Jason Reed

Cricketing legend Ian Chappell questioned Australian captain Michael Clarke's ability to formulate a successful batting order for his team. Chappell was talking at the Nine Network on Monday.

Chappell said that it was unbelievable to hear that Clarke was doubtful about Shane Watson's capability as a batsman. According to the former Australian captain, the all-rounder is one of the top three batsmen Australia has at the moment. Chappell said that Clarke should also believe the same. Clarke earlier said that he was not sure if Watson was a top order batsman. Chappell said that the Australian captain's problem was his inability to visualise a batting order for the team. He also said that Clarke was not aware of the importance of a batting order. Chappell supported his point by giving an example of the kind of Australia had in the 90s and early 2000s. He said that it did not matter who batted when during those days. However, the batting order should be in the right order for a team which is struggling with its batting line-up, he added.

Even though Watson's role in the team as a batsman is often debated, Chappell said that all the argument should end and Watson should start batting regularly at no. 3. ABC News reports that Australia has suffered for a quality no. 3 since Ricky Ponting's retirement from test cricket in 2012. Glen Maxwell, an inexperienced candidate for the spot, was chosen to bat at no. 3 in the second test against Pakistan in the on-going series. He made a quick 37 in the first innings but scored only 4 in the second. Maxwell's surprise selection came after Alex Doolan, the choice for no. 3 in the first test, had scored 5 and 0 consecutively. Australia has already lost the test series 0-2.

The Guardian questioned if Clarke should be called "the best captain in the world," a term Shane Warne had initiated for the national captain. His dismal performance as a captain in the on-going series has probably given the title to his counterpart in the rival team, Misbah-ul-Haq. However, Clarke's efforts were appreciated as the Australian team was performing miserably when he took the responsibility as the captain. It is only recently that players like Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson and David Warner performed well for the team.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au