MARCUS NORTH has emerged as a shock contender for Australia's Test captaincy, as Michael Clarke's popularity within the side continues to wane following a bitter tour of India.
The team is not divided to the point of implosion, but a number of senior players remain firmly opposed to the idea that Clarke will succeed Ricky Ponting. Clarke has been able to harness great support among younger members of the team, who realise their backing would be rewarded should Clarke gain the captaincy full-time.
Cricket Australia anointed Clarke as the heir-apparent years ago and has resisted swaying from that path, however, some in the anti-Clarke camp have been promoting other candidates including two not in the Test team, Callum Ferguson and Cameron White.
Clarke had said: ''You don't have to play IPL. You don't have to play Champions League. For me, personally, right now it is about representing my country, and every game I can play for Australia, I will do that.''
Ponting made it clear to his team that Cricket Australia forced Hussey and Bollinger to play in the Champions League, and told reporters in India:
''So I made it really clear that those players wanted to be here and their contractual situation didn't allow that to happen.''
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland was also forced to admit that this was indeed the case.
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