Melbourne, Feb 3 : Former Australian opener Mark Waugh has questioned Michael Clarke’s position in the national team’s Twenty20 set-up, and backed the in form Cameron White for the team’s captaincy.

“If he’s captain, he’s got to get going. You’re the main man and you probably have to bat at three of four,” said Waugh, who is also part of FOX Sports commentary team

Clarke had struggled to adapt to the shortest form of the game, and Victoria skipper Cameron White was the man to lead Australia in Twenty20 cricket, Waugh said.

“I don’t think (Clarke’s) batting is suited all that well to Twenty20 cricket. With that back injury, I’m just thinking will it shorten his Test career. Cameron White could easily be captain, Waugh said on Inside Cricket.

Clarke’s record in Twenty20 cricket is mediocre in comparison to his performances in the longer forms of the game.

He has scored just 216 runs at an average of 19.63 in Twenty20 internationals at the strike-rate of just over a run a ball, which is low by T20 standards.

By comparison, the in-form White boasts a strike-rate of 150.00 from eight Tewnty20 internationals. He also averages 33.40 in at a strike rate of 137.89 in the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash.

White has captained Victoria to four KFC Twenty Big Bash titles in five years, and has the support of his Bushrangers coach, Greg Shipperd, who said in September that White should lead his country in T20 cricket.

Australia’s chairman of selectors, Andrew Hilditch, has however backed Clarke to perform, starting against Pakistan at the MCG on Friday night.

“He’s going to captain the side. He’s a brilliant fielder and he bowls left-arm orthodox as well, so it’s an exceedingly good all-round package he brings. He’s one of the best players in world cricket at the moment in Tests and one-day internationals, and we hope he can transfer that form into Twenty20,” Hilditch said. (ANI)