There were two ways of looking at the captain's decision to send Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner and Brad Haddin out ahead of him in the beat-up of the minnows in Perth.

If Australia were searching for the highest possible score – they ended up posting a record World Cup total of 6-417 as Maxwell went ballistic in a 10-over residency that netted him 88 – then the others' free-swinging strengths were obvious attractions.

However, with an eye on Sunday's crucial match in Sydney and the rest of the tournament, there was also a chance for an underdone Clarke to get some valuable match practice.

Former greats were split on the call. Shane Warne and Ian Healy, in commentary, backed it, saying Clarke had put the interests of the team first; Brett Lee indicated he should have batted. Another World Cup winner, Tom Moody, called the move "bizarre".

Whatever the case, it leaves the 33-year-old still wanting for time in the middle – he made 12 against New Zealand last Saturday in his only competitive international outing since his return from injury – as Australia turn their attention to a team that has reached the last two World Cup finals.

And it is not as if there is nothing to play for against Sri Lanka in Australia's penultimate game of the group stage.

Should they lose they will be destined to finish third in pool A, leaving them in the path of AB de Villiers and South Africa in a quarter-final in Adelaide, and then – if they were to get past that hurdle – likely facing another trip to Eden Park for a semi-final against New Zealand.

Clarke – who quelled any suggestion he had not batted for fitness reasons by later bowling five overs against Afghanistan – defended his ploy after the 275-run win, another record for World Cups.

"There was no doubt I wanted to bat, but I thought it was in the best interests of the team," he said. "I kept my pads on. I was in next until about 11 or 12 overs to go. And I thought there was an opportunity for us to really have a crack at that world record for Australian teams in the World Cup. The decision was based on what was best for the team."

There were still 12.3 overs left in Australia's innings when Clarke would ordinarily have come in at No.4, and with David Warner and Steve Smith having already put the result beyond doubt – there were 274 runs on the board at that point – there was not a great deal to be done but apply the icing, hence the promotion of Maxwell.

What Clarke would have gained from a late slogging cameo under zero pressure is admittedly questionable. As great a batsman as he has been, that is not his go.

That was outlined by a figure unearthed during the game by statistical guru Ric Finlay, who noted that of the 66 players worldwide to have scored at least as many runs as Clarke in Twenty20 internationals, he comes in 65th when ranked by scoring rate.

That said, it is not as if he does not have a role to play in this World Cup, particularly if and when the going gets tough against one of their better-credentialled rivals, as it did in Auckland.

With that in mind, Clarke, needing practice building an innings rather than blasting one, might have been better served in Perth by temporarily pushing himself up into the suddenly vacant No.3 spot – a position he has generally avoided – rather than the well-oiled Smith.

Australia may not have etched their name into the history books against Afghanistan with their giant total and margin of victory, but they still would have won and Clarke could have had a lengthy bat. In that sense, putting himself first might have also been the best thing for the team.