*Official* Australia vs Pakistan in England

[Xuhaib]

was reading an article by Osman where he mentions Kamran has cost Kaneria 31 test wickets really unbelievable stats when you think how much a knock on positive effect does a wicket creates for a spinner.

 

[howardj]

Steve Smiff batting at # 8

These selectors have no ****ing idea

He's a top six player. Get North out of there.

But no, they will **** around with him like they did Watson (batting him way down the list because he can bowl).

Seriously, we need a new NSP.

 

[Faisal1985]

was reading an article by Osman where he mentions Kamran has cost Kaneria 31 test wickets really unbelievable stats when you think how much a knock on positive effect does a wicket creates for a spinner.

Wow....i always thought it was around 10 or so..but this is an incredible number....Karman certainly a liability in the longer version of the game.

 

[Nate]

So, as I thought, the economies were good because of wide, no-need-to-play-at-this bowling?

Haha yeah, apparently he copped a spray from Ponting at one point. From what I saw, it looked like they were swinging from the hand as normal.

O'Keefe not getting a chance in the warm-up game was stupid. Smith is not a frontline bowler. Nervousssssssss

 

[Top_Cat]

DWTA. Smith to clean up. Maybe not in this series but it's a matter of time. Anyway, no way should he bat 6 in the Test side. To even make the top 6, he should be one of the best Shield batters for a minimum of two seasons and he's miles off that. Picking him as a bowling all-rounder gets him in the side without putting his batting under the pressure of batting top-6. Wouldn't be the first time a bloke who probably will be good enough to bat 6 wasn't picked in the top-6 of his Test side if he can bowl.

 

[Nate]

Smith to clean up. Maybe not in this series but it's a matter of time. Anyway, no way should he bat 6 in the Test side. To even make the top 6, he should be one of the best Shield batters for a minimum of two seasons and he's miles off that. Picking him as a bowling all-rounder gets him in the side without putting his batting under the pressure of batting top-6.

So to be picked as a batsman he needs to dominate Shield Cricket for two years, but to be picked as a bowler he can be selected after a season where he averaged 40?

 

[Faisal1985]

Lets warm things a bit in this thread....

This boy is going to punish Aussies.

YouTube - UMAR AKMAL vs AUSTRALIA HD

 

[Top_Cat]

So to be picked as a batsman he needs to dominate Shield Cricket for two years, but to be picked as a bowler he can be selected after a season where he averaged 40?

Picking batting line-ups and bowling line-ups have different considerations. If you **** up with the ball, you have multiple chances to pull it back. Batting, one chance is all you get so there's a greater need to be somewhat proven and consistent for mine, especially since there's many more batters than spinners to compete with and that the average of 40 doesn't tell the full tale. There's greater scope to develop a bowler from within the Test side than batters too.

So yeah, if he's ripping them and there aren't any better spinning options (and there aren't), I agree with the selectors and say pick him. Wouldn't even be a debate if Hauritz was fit anyway.

 

[Riggins]

I would prefer to see smith at 6 but can see the reasoning against it, however I don't understand why he's at 8 with T Paine at 7. Surely you bat the guy who averages nearly 60 ahead of the guy at 30.

 

[Nate]

Picking batting line-ups and bowling line-ups have different considerations. If you **** up with the ball, you have multiple chances to pull it back. Batting, one chance is all you get so there's a greater need to be somewhat proven and consistent for mine, especially since there's many more batters than spinners to compete with. There's greater scope to develop a bowler from within the Test side than batters too.

So yeah, if he's ripping them and there aren't any better spinning options (and there aren't), I agree with the selectors and say pick him. Wouldn't even be a debate if Hauritz was fit anyway.

I disagree with you then.

Regardless of the nature that's getting him in the Test Side, I hope he carves it up. With both bat and ball.

 

[Top_Cat]

Well, Tim Paine's been around longer and looks more the specialist batter than Smith, is a more measured player, has played more significant innings' high in the order for state and country, etc. Even Watto batted 8 in his first Test and he was averaging, what high-40's for Tas/QLD? Team balance a big consideration too.

tbh, Smith's batting is a bit volatile to bat him too high yet. Good hitter and all that but I personally wouldn't bat him higher than Paine yet.

 

[Top_Cat]

I disagree with you then.

Regardless of the nature that's getting him in the Test Side, I hope he carves it up. With both bat and ball.

AWTA.

 

[Nate]

tbh, Smith's batting is a bit volatile to bat him too high yet. Good hitter and all that but I personally wouldn't bat him higher than Paine yet.

Haha, is this a bit of a case of you looking at his strike-rate and thinking he's a slogger? Because I assure you, while he is capable of big shots, he was rock solid in defence against both spin and pace this season. Based on what I've seen at the SCG, Smith is definitely ready to bat at six for Australia.

EDIT: Streets ahead of Paine at this point imo.

 

[Faisal1985]

And a little bit of this...

I hope its ok to post a couple of videos....

YouTube - Mohammad Asif Great Bowling against England

 

[Nate]

And a little bit of this...

I hope its ok to post a couple of videos....

YouTube - Mohammad Asif Great Bowling against England

Great clip. Owned Pietersen that series.

 

[Spark]

That ball to Pietersen was an absolute gem.

 

[Faisal1985]

If as they say the red cherry in Eng moves a lot i am expecting a great show from Asif....

 

[Riggins]

Well, Tim Paine's been around longer and looks more the specialist batter than Smith, is a more measured player, has played more significant innings' high in the order for state and country, etc. Even Watto batted 8 in his first Test and he was averaging, what high-40's for Tas/QLD?

dwta
imo an average of 30 with only 1 fc hundred doesn't even compare to high 40's, let alone high 50's.

 

[Xuhaib]

If as they say the red cherry in Eng moves a lot i am expecting a great show from Asif....

has been pretty poor in the 2 day game form is questionable atm/.

 

[howardj]

DWTA. Smith to clean up. Maybe not in this series but it's a matter of time. Anyway, no way should he bat 6 in the Test side. To even make the top 6, he should be one of the best Shield batters for a minimum of two seasons and he's miles off that. Picking him as a bowling all-rounder gets him in the side without putting his batting under the pressure of batting top-6. Wouldn't be the first time a bloke who probably will be good enough to bat 6 wasn't picked in the top-6 of his Test side if he can bowl.

Marcus NOrth?

Smith is of far more value to the team than that blob.

North only gets runs when you least need them.