Australia - the aftermath of the Ashes

[howardj]

I think they really messed with his head when they dropped him in 2009.

Sort of like when they dropped Slats.

Confidence shattered, never the same again.

 

[Top_Cat]

Khawaja's not pretty outside off-stump by Adelaidian standards, tbh. Have a look at Cam Ferguson, his edges to 2nd make people cry.

 

[Spark]

Completely disagree, what I've seen indicates that he's trying his backside off to fix his technique but atm it's not settled hence his bad run.

 

[Spark]

Khawaja's not pretty outside off-stump by Adelaidian standards, tbh. Have a look at Cam Ferguson, his edges to 2nd make people cry.

True, but at his best, Clarke was leaving balls off the middle of the bat through 3rd slip for four

 

[Top_Cat]

I made this point the other day - Hughes averages 62 when you remove his performances against England in Tests and has a pretty good domestic FC average. His technique has only really gotten him into trouble against England, who have had a good, disciplined bowling attack who have been able to exploit this weakness. If he left his game the way it is, he'd probably continue his woes against England, but no-one else seems to have worked out away of consistently getting him out.

Heh, reckon Shield bowlers this year and whoever he comes up against any time soon may disagree. Shudder to think what the Saffies will do to him next time.

 

[Spark]

Mmm, pretty simple. Bowl at his hips.

 

[Hit Wicket]

The first thing Australia have to do is dump Steven Smith. I cringe seeing a bits and pieces player in the Australian test line up where Warne was a spinner and the number 7 was Gilchrist. Once that has been done, they can start to put the remaining pieces in some order.

Does ICC have an award for the worst debutant of the year - he is top billing!

 

[Furball]

The first thing Australia have to do is dump Steven Smith. I cringe seeing a bits and pieces player in the Australian test line up where Warne was a spinner and the number 7 was Gilchrist. Once that has been done, they can start to put the remaining pieces in some order.

Does ICC have an award for the worst debutant of the year - he is top billing!

It's hardly Steven Smith's fault if the selectors **** around with his role in the side. Yeah, he could have scored more runs in the 2 Tests he played at 6, but in his 5 Test career he has twice been played as a specialist spinner and number 8, twice as a number 6, and once as a number 7 who seemingly wasn't trusted to bowl until about 100 overs into England's innings. It's hardly his fault if he doesn't know what the hell he's supposed to be doing in the side.

 

[TumTum]

Heh, reckon Shield bowlers this year and whoever he comes up against any time soon may disagree.

Heh, because his "technical flaws" weren't obvious enough a couple of years ago?

 

[howardj]

The first thing Australia have to do is dump Steven Smith. I cringe seeing a bits and pieces player in the Australian test line up where Warne was a spinner and the number 7 was Gilchrist. Once that has been done, they can start to put the remaining pieces in some order.

Does ICC have an award for the worst debutant of the year - he is top billing!

I vigorously disagree.

I think Smith will make a fine number six for Australia, and has already tightened things up on offstump.

He's played five Tests and already has a couple of dashing half centuries.

His bowling though needs some work. I agree with the guys on the ABC that his run up gets him to the crease unbalanced.

He needs to smooth that out, but I think his bowling has a lot of upside.

 

[Spark]

No way is Smith one of the best six batsmen in this country. I don't think he's even in the best ten.

I see a long-term future for Smith, but not as 6 - not yet.

I would honestly rather have Tim Paine as a #6. That says something.

 

[Top_Cat]

Yeah they were but it seem fairly clear they weren't exploited in the way they are now. Even a few Test bowlers in South Africa didn't get it straight away.

He's a top player and a bloke with an eye as good as that will get away from sides often enough. But I would suggest if absolutely nothing changes, it won't happen with the same regularity. That said, a top player won't just leave things be.

 

[Uppercut]

I think they really messed with his head when they dropped him in 2009.

His head was quite clearly well and truly gone by then, was bounced out by medium pacers in the warm-up match before the third test. That's why they dropped him.

 

[Hit Wicket]

To the ones who disagree with me, who/what is Steven Smith :

1. A batsman who can bowl

2. A bowler who can bat

3. A batting all rounder who can turn his arm over

4. A bowling all rounder who can slog a few

5. Someone who can command a presence in the side with bowling or batting

 

[Spark]

A batting allrounder who can turn his arm over.

He has a technical flaw outside off stump to the moving ball - so do many batsmen.

 

[Ruckus]

Yeah they were but it seem fairly clear they weren't exploited in the way they are now. Even a few Test bowlers in South Africa didn't get it straight away.

He's a top player and a bloke with an eye as good as that will get away from sides often enough. But I would suggest if absolutely nothing changes, it won't happen with the same regularity. That said, a top player won't just leave things be.

Yep, that's the key for me. I have faith he will be able to be successful at an international level simply because of his drive and determination. There aren't many players with his mentality who don't at least have some success in the long-run.

 

[TumTum]

To the ones who disagree with me, who/what is Steven Smith :

1. A batsman who can bowl

2. A bowler who can bat

3. A batting all rounder who can turn his arm over

4. A bowling all rounder who can slog a few

5. Someone who can command a presence in the side with bowling or batting

A slogger who bowls pies.

 

[TumTum]

Yep, that's the key for me. I have faith he will be able to be successful at an international level simply because of his drive and determination. There aren't many players with his mentality who don't at least have some success in the long-run.

Awta, that's what I loved most about him in SA. Giving him a chance in SL before the SA series will go a long way to building up his confidence again after it's been heavily abused by England.

 

[howardj]

I see enormous parralels between Smith and Tugga.

Can not hold their place in the team in the infancy of their careers, just through one of the disciplines.

But, in time, will prove really good at both.

Also a gun fieldsman.

 

[Hit Wicket]

A batting allrounder who can turn his arm over.

He has a technical flaw outside off stump to the moving ball - so do many batsmen.

Okay, let's see how he copes in Sri Lanka against Mendis, Herath, and Randiv. I am sure his techinical flaw outside the off stump won't come into play there.