Shane Watson- massively overrated test cricketer

[Dan]

Adds a bit.

He's done sweet **** all in his entire career. He's the new master of the somewhat attractive 30.

Players with more FC tons than Tim Paine:
Nathan Hauritz
Steven Smith
Shane Warne
Harbhajan Singh
Keith Barker
Ollie Rayner

#NotAsGoodAsNev

 

[Spikey]

NSW really should have tried harder to keep Hauritz on as a batsman

 

[Jager]

What about Smith as a future middle-order bat?

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

spkiy pls

 

[Dan]

What about Smith as a future middle-order bat?

I don't mind Smith, actually (puts me in the minority on CW, but I can understand why). I think that he definitely could mature into a capable Test number 6 in a few years time - probably not a guaranteed First XI batsman, but a squad player at least.

Given he can chip in with a few overs of leg spin, he'd be more than useful. It would help if everyone just accepts that he isn't the new Warne and lets him get on with his job as a batsman who bowls a bit.

He averages 41 in the Shield, which is at least on par with everyone else being talked about, and averages roughly the same as Ed Cowan in Tests (from a similar number of games). To me, there is no reason why his batting can't develop to a reasonable standard.

 

[Jager]

Me too. He had a better Shield season than most other contenders, too

 

[Spark]

Has the best attitude out of all the contenders IMO.

 

[uvelocity]

watson is the 4th best batsman in australia at present

which is a worry

 

[Andre]

Reckon there is a good chance Wade and Paine may end up playing the same Aussie teams down the track, with Wade as a batsman.

 

[Spikey]

Has the best attitude out of all the contenders IMO.

If you told me in October that by the end of the season I'd be more confident in Smith becoming a good test cricketer than Usman or Hughes......but given their seasons.

 

[Top_Cat]

Disagree that Smith should aim to bat higher. Am backing his leggies to come good and be better than his batting, myself.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Nope. I don't think he'll work hard enough on them, he can get a game as a pure batsman for NSW, he can't do that as a bowler.

 

[social]

From the little I saw of Smith bowling the other night, it looked like his action had deteriorated noticeably from the last time I saw him

 

[Ruckus]

Smith has more potential as a batsman than bowler imo, which makes sense considering he has always been a batsman.

 

[Furball]

If Smith bowled offies no-one would give a **** about his bowling.

 

[Briony]

Reckon there is a good chance Wade and Paine may end up playing the same Aussie teams down the track, with Wade as a batsman.

With the dearth of young batsmen Wade might fill the breach but it's a bit of an indictment on our system this lack of young talent coming through.

 

[Andre]

With the dearth of young batsmen Wade might fill the breach but it's a bit of an indictment on our system this lack of young talent coming through.

I don't think so - it's going to happen more and more these days as batsmen are taught to keep wicket and not the other way around - have a look at England. If Wade and Paine are both in our best 7 bats in a few years they both should play.

 

[Spark]

From the little I saw of Smith bowling the other night, it looked like his action had deteriorated noticeably from the last time I saw him

Probably because he seems to hardly do it nowadays.

 

[Cabinet96]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Paine and Wade find themselves in the same team one day. England played 2 Wicketkeepers against the West Indies and sometimes play 3 keepers in limited overs cricket.

That Paine FC stat is weird though. He's got 8 List A 100's with one being an ODI, IIRC. And he's got a test 90.

 

[Mike Filroy]

I like Shane...he's got a lot of power.