Cricket great Ian Chappell has questioned if Australian skipper Michael Clarke has any idea about formulating a successful batting order.

Chappell let fly at Clarke at the Nine Network’s 2014/15 cricket season launch at the SCG on Monday.

The former Australian skipper and veteran Nine commentator said he couldn’t believe Clarke recently said he was unsure if allrounder Shane Watson was a top order batsman.

Chappell was firm in his belief that Watson was a top three batsman and that Clarke should think likewise.

“The problem with Michael Clarke is his inability to visualise a batting order,” Chappell said.

“I’m not sure he knows, or he doesn’t understand, how important a batting order is.

“If you have a side that (Australia) was like in the 1990s and early 2000s, it didn’t matter which order you bat them in.

“But if you have a side that is struggling with its batting line-up, you better get them in the right order.

“I can’t believe the quote from Michael the other day, when he was asked about Shane Watson batting in the top order or top three, he said `I’m not so sure about the top order’.

“Shane Watson, as far as I’m concerned, is top three.”

The No.3 batting position has been a problem for Australia since Ricky Ponting retired from Test cricket in 2012.

In the recent 2-0 series loss to Pakistan Australia started with Alex Doolan in the role but he was dumped after the first Test when he scored 5 and 0.

The Test-inexperienced Glenn Maxwell was a surprise selection for the second fixture, hitting a quickfire 37 in the first innings before getting out for 4 in the second dig.

Steve Smith had been slated by some as the obvious player to move up the order but Clarke described him playing at No.3 as “a fantasy” despite cementing his spot in the batting line-up.