***Official*** Australia in New Zealand 2016

[Hurricane]

What do you expect him to do? He can't magic up some clouds from over the horizon to help with swing, nor can he turn back time and bowl 2014 era Southee and Boult. His field setting this morning weren't great, but none of that can disguise the fact our two senior bowlers look shells of their former selves.

Tons of things he can do.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

In top level grade cricket in Sydney there's plenty of batsmen averaging above 40 aren't there? I think it depends where you play etc, and what you mean by grade cricket. But if you're a batsman with first class potential playing grade you'd average over 45 for sure.

edit: Dan already covered this.

 

[Jord]

In grade cricket, you'd expect Test players to come back and dominate, naturally. FC-quality players look to average 50ish over their careers -- lots of English county guys come across and average between 45 and 70 during a season if they're batting well (Cowdrey's averaging ~40 for Wests this year, Stoneman's around the 80 mark this season). Then you get high-class grade players who aren't quite good enough to step up, sitting around the 40-50 mark most years. Noted FC underperformer David Dawson averages 51 in Sydney Grade since 2009; ultra-consistent around that mark too.

So basically to be seen as a genuinely good grade bat, 40+. To be seen for higher honours, you're looking at 60+ seasons.

Interesting; just wondering aloud considering the Aussies are just absolutely brilliant at batting time and making full use of the conditions to score runs. You don't see them gifting stupid wickets out like our guys have done especially with Lyon.

 

[Dan]

What do you expect him to do? He can't magic up some clouds from over the horizon to help with swing, nor can he turn back time and bowl 2014 era Southee and Boult. His field setting this morning weren't great, but none of that can disguise the fact our two senior bowlers look shells of their former selves.

He really needs to work out how to tighten up and control the scoring, tbf.

 

[Hurricane]

He really needs to work out how to tighten up and control the scoring, tbf.

This is my major point.

They are scoring, what, 5,6 or even 7 runs an over at present. At least go negative and dry them up if we can't get them out. Maybe they will get bored and hole out after ten overs of batting at 2 to 3 runs per over.

 

[Dan]

In top level grade cricket in Sydney there's plenty of batsmen averaging above 40 aren't there? I think it depends where you play etc, and what you mean by grade cricket. But if you're a batsman with first class potential playing grade you'd average over 45 for sure.

I don't think its as strong as it once was. I suppose 45 is fair enough for a career average of a guy with FC potential (being brought up early on potential, lean runs as they get used to the standard etc), but for NSW selection you're looking at 60+ years for sure. Lenton averages about 68 this year and is on the fringe. Dan Hughes is averaging high 70s and rightfully got into the NSW side on the back of it.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Wondering more on the fact that how the **** did it fell in to 48

must have been seriously poor at the latter part of his carrier

This sort of thing isn't that uncommon really. Viv Richards averaged over 60 after 45 tests and had 13 hundreds, then didn't score one for 2 years, and finished his career almost a decade later with an average of 50. Some players peak early.

 

[jcas0167]

Smith only 3 on the Caltex Power Rating

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

I don't think its as strong as it once was. I suppose 45 is fair enough for a career average of a guy with FC potential (being brought up early on potential, lean runs as they get used to the standard etc), but for NSW selection you're looking at 60+ years for sure. Lenton averages about 68 this year and is on the fringe. Dan Hughes is averaging high 70s and rightfully got into the NSW side on the back of it.

Yeah I was thinking 45+ career average at the bare minimum, but that's probably low balling it. There's dozens of players in Sydney grade averaging over 40 for this season for instance, so you need a lot of runs to stand out. Still I think 40 would be a reasonable mark for a "good" player at the level, similar metrics to FC cricket really.

 

[Starfighter]

In top level grade cricket in Sydney there's plenty of batsmen averaging above 40 aren't there? I think it depends where you play etc, and what you mean by grade cricket. But if you're a batsman with first class potential playing grade you'd average over 45 for sure.

edit: Dan already covered this.

Sydney ain't Canberra though.

 

[Bahnz]

This is my major point.

They are scoring, what, 5,6 or even 7 runs an over at present. At least go negative and dry them up if we can't get them out. Maybe they will get bored and hole out after ten overs of batting at 2 to 3 runs per over.

He did that for an hour before tea and nothing happened. The new ball is the one time a captain needs to go on the attack.

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Smith only 3 on the Caltex Power Rating

Amazing.

 

[Hurricane]

I approve of the current tactic. I just hope Wagner can actually bowl to it.

 

[Dan]

Interesting; just wondering aloud considering the Aussies are just absolutely brilliant at batting time and making full use of the conditions to score runs. You don't see them gifting stupid wickets out like our guys have done especially with Lyon.

Eh, I don't think that has anything to do with the grade structure. Up until recently all of our guys had big problems with making tons and batting time -- Shield conditions being very bowler-friendly/result-oriented circa-2010 gave us a sub-generation of guys who had no idea how to construct an innings or bat time. There's less of that now; the decks have flattened out somewhat at Shield level, but honestly I don't think there's been that much of a shift. Smith is just Smith, while Khawaja and Voges are hitting the ball so well that they can't help but score runs.

Burns is batting well here, but in the past (and even at times in this innings) he's struggled to make big scores -- wavering concentration and all that.

 

[Dan]

Sydney ain't Canberra though.

Yeah but Canberra only has about three good batsmen and they all moved to Sydney

 

[Gob]

These are the times you really miss Clarke. Recall him randomly going berserk and make hundred runs in the last session. Can't see Smith getting in to that mood even he has all the capabilities

 

[Hurricane]

He did that for an hour before tea and nothing happened. The new ball is the one time a captain needs to go on the attack.

It stopped swinging after 4 overs.

And the batman are on a Gigzillion runs each.

Did we need three slips and a gully?

Anyway - I like his tactic in the last over but I am not sure that Wagner going around the wicket was helpful.

 

[hendrix]

He really needs to work out how to tighten up and control the scoring, tbf.

maybe, but:

1. The run rate isn't actually all that high. 3.41. Yes, there's been slow periods and then fast periods. But it hasn't been outrageous scoring.
2. The bowling attack doesn't have much ability to dry up runs - Wagner, Anderson etc aren't economy bowlers...and yeah Southee and Boult aren't much chop at that these days either.
3. It's a day 2 pitch, perfect batting conditions.

Not saying his captaincy shouldn't be criticised.

 

[Gnske]

These are the times you really miss Clarke. Recall him randomly going berserk and make hundred runs in the last session. Can't see Smith getting in to that mood even he has all the capabilities

Not every attack can have Imran Tahir and Rory Kleinveldt staining it.

 

[Gob]

Not every attack can have Imran Tahir and Rory Kleinveldt staining it.

Yeah but they also had that Steyn bloke who was sort of decent