The Best Young Batsmen in the world?

[Richard]

Come on. Smith isn't THAT bad. He's pretty brainless, but he also has a large share of natural talent. He hasn't seemed to focus on his batting at all of late though, as his bowling has really improved dramatically.

Me and Craig always said we saw something in his bowling...

Smith's batting is that bad. The physical talent makes it all the worse that the mental skills are so, so simply not there.

I honestly struggle to think of someone who's batted so, so stupidly in my time of watching.

 

[Richard]

Taylor hasn't played test cricket yet so I cannot say. I think if Fulton fails to make his mark in ODI cricket in the next year, he'll be pigeon-holed to test cricket because after all he has decent OD stats for Canterbury but his true ability has shown in the longer form.

Taylor's FC stats aren't too flash from memory...?

 

[Tim]

Taylor definately likes to dominate and I think sometimes he struggles to build an innings in first class cricket BUT he did score 212 off 214 balls late last year. So he might be learning from his time with the NZ team.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Me and Craig always said we saw something in his bowling...

Smith's batting is that bad. The physical talent makes it all the worse that the mental skills are so, so simply not there.

I honestly struggle to think of someone who's batted so, so stupidly in my time of watching.

He's is not worse than Aftab Ahmed, contrary to your assertion. Smith has too show on occasion - very rarely - that he can play a sensible innings. He gets himself out in some of the most ridiculous ways - the exact same way 4-5 times against SA a couple years ago - but he's certainly not horrible enough to be classed far worse than Aftab. Of late Smith hasn't been able to buy a run though.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Taylor's FC stats aren't too flash from memory...?

New Zealand FC stats generally aren't. New Zealand domestic stats in generally aren't exceptional. Ross Taylor doesn't average much less than Nathan Astle.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Taylor definately likes to dominate and I think sometimes he struggles to build an innings in first class cricket BUT he did score 212 off 214 balls late last year. So he might be learning from his time with the NZ team.

212 off 214 balls doesn't necessary suggest building an innings though.

 

[Richard]

He's is not worse than Aftab Ahmed, contrary to your assertion. Smith has too show on occasion - very rarely - that he can play a sensible innings. He gets himself out in some of the most ridiculous ways - the exact same way 4-5 times against SA a couple years ago - but he's certainly not horrible enough to be classed far worse than Aftab. Of late Smith hasn't been able to buy a run though.

If I implied that I think Smith is worse than Aftab I apologise.

I had precisely no intention of doing so.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Cook? He's probably the closest thing we've had to a prodigy for donkey's years. I think I read he was the first Englishman ever to register 4 test tons before his 22nd birthday.

He does look to have a weakness with the ball slanted across him, but I think it's more of a question of discipline than a techincal flaw per se.

 

[Richard]

Cook. Have always rated him extremely highly.

 

[Goughy]

AB de Villiers still retains some of my confidence.

Id be happier if he was keeping, which he will probably do after Boucher goes.

Temprament and technique is currently a little too suspect for me at the moment for him to be a top quality specialist bat. It may come as he smooths the rough edges from his game.

I just hate how he plays back foot shots off the front foot. Very dodgy against the quickest or variable bounce

 

[Richard]

New Zealand FC stats generally aren't. New Zealand domestic stats in generally aren't exceptional. Ross Taylor doesn't average much less than Nathan Astle.

Christopher Zinzan Harris.

And IIRR the pitches have offered more to batsmen of late... Fulton, Ryder, someone else, all seem to have decent averages.

Fleming's never exactly been poor, either.

 

[Richard]

BUT he did score 212 off 214 balls late last year.

Dwayne Rommel has competition!

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

CricInfo really stated the truth when they called him a walking wicket of late. He's such a talented player, but his technique seems really loose right now - much like Michael Clarke a while ago. Like Clarke, he needs to sort that out on the domestic circuit. Surely South Africa have better batting options (probably not openers though) than him (and Amla) right now.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Dwayne Rommel has competition!

If Dwayne ever lasts that long in an innings...
Well, I don't think he will any time soon.

But he would have more than a run-a-ball score if he did.

 

[Richard]

CricInfo really stated the truth when they called him a walking wicket of late. He's such a talented player, but his technique seems really loose right now - much like Michael Clarke a while ago. Like Clarke, he needs to sort that out on the domestic circuit. Surely South Africa have better batting options (probably not openers though) than him (and Amla) right now.

South Africa's treatment of their 2nd opening slot recently has verged on the supersillious.

How on Earth can Dippenaar, de Villiers, Hall and Rudolph all have a go, and not Gibbs?

For me it should either be de Villiers or Gibbs - and with de Villiers in his current state the best thing for me would currently be to drop him - not bat him at five and six.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Christopher Zinzan Harris.

And IIRR the pitches have offered more to batsmen of late... Fulton, Ryder, someone else, all seem to have decent averages.

Fleming's never exactly been poor, either.

Fleming does indeed have a pretty good record, but he's also scored very heavily in England. I'd think that his domestic average (minus Tests) wouldn't be much more than 40 if you took out his work in county cricket.

 

[Richard]

CricketArchive here I come...

Fleming only played in England for the first time in something like 2003...?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

South Africa's treatment of their 2nd opening slot recently has verged on the supersillious.

How on Earth can Dippenaar, de Villiers, Hall and Rudolph all have a go, and not Gibbs?

Because Gibbs has been rubbish against the new ball lately.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

CricketArchive here I come...

Fleming only played in England for the first time in something like 2003...?

He's notched over 900 runs the last two times.

 

[Richard]

First-class Batting For Each Team by Stephen Fleming
Team Matches Inns Not Out Runs HS Ave 100 50
Canterbury 25 37 4 1336 118 40.48 2 8
Middlesex 14 23 2 1091 151 51.95 4 6
New Zealand 104 177 10 6620 274* 39.64 9 41
New Zealand Academy 3 4 0 116 77 29.00 0 1
New Zealand XI 1 2 1 120 109* 120.00 1 0
New Zealanders 36 58 6 2346 151 45.11 7 11
Nottinghamshire 24 38 3 1900 238 54.28 6 10
Southern Conference 4 6 1 303 145 60.60 1 1
Wellington 10 16 2 588 115 42.00 1 5
Yorkshire 7 14 2 469 98 39.08 0 3

IAH I'm amazed he did as well as he did for Middx and Notts, 'cos I remember thinking "he's wasted his chance to cash-in on our flatties".

Still, his record for Canterbury and Wellington ain't shabby.