What do you think of Virat Kohli?

[Dan]

Smith being successful was incredibly predictable. Perhaps not to the heights he has reached, but it was never in doubt that he'd become a Test-class batsman once the selectors stopped trying to convince him to be a bowling all-rounder.

No idea why Having A Funny Technique immediately means that his success could not possibly be predicted.

 

[Daemon]

If anyone predicted him being one of the top 3 in the world back then then then kudos to them, I definitely did not see that coming at all when I saw him in ODIs and against Pakistan in England.

 

[Dan]

The guy has bucketloads of natural talent and an utterly ridiculous work ethic, was always determined to improve and confident in his ability to do so (with his awkwardness perhaps preventing him from wholly overbalancing into arrogance/frustration at people not being as talented as him).

Every characteristic was there from the start; IMO people put too much emphasis on young players having a pretty technique when it comes to predicting success.

 

[Furball]

If anyone predicted him being one of the top 3 in the world back then then then kudos to them, I definitely did not see that coming at all when I saw him in ODIs and against Pakistan in England.

I didn't go that far but I definitely had him pencilled in as a mainstay of Australia's middle order once he had a bit more first class experience.

 

[smash84]

I thought he was a leg break bowler who would soon be pummeled into oblivion.

I was right about him as a leg break bowler.

 

[Pratters]

Found Smith's batting erratic in the beginning. Played far too many shots for my liking and given what I made of his batting ability technically. Question: given that he started off as a leg spinner who could bat to an extent, when did he improve as a batsman?

I love Smith now. I rate him very highly, as should every one else who doesn't.

 

[mr_mister]

well always batted in the top 5 for NSW right? I remember hearing he hit a 190 odd in shield cricket while he was still performing medicore at test level(had yet to get a ton) and thats when I thought hey hey might come good in tests too

 

[Jono]

hey guys, get your Smith talk out of Kohli's thread ya sons of bitches.

 

[mr_mister]

such a punchable face

 

[Jono]

such a punchable face

 

[Burgey]

One thing I like when watching the likes of Kohli and Smith is their audacity when they bat. Same with guys like Pietersen. You always think you're a chance with them because they don't always take the measured approach. It makes them every bit as compelling as someone who plays a more orthodox type of game. Same with Lara compared with Waugh and Tendulkar. You might not always get the output but it's always interesting to watch.

 

[mr_mister]

i mean at least it looks like he's kind of taking the piss there... can imagine him laughing after the cameras were turned off about how ridiculous that photo is


the 'you talk too much' taunt he's doing in that other picture only works if you're like a silent badass who lets his actions do the talking... where as virat is the biggest loudmouth around(but backs it up as least)


tldr: he's less punchable in the second pic

 

[Jono]

One thing I like when watching the likes of Kohli and Smith is their audacity when they bat. Same with guys like Pietersen. You always think you're a chance with them because they don't always take the measured approach. It makes them every bit as compelling as someone who plays a more orthodox type of game. Same with Lara compared with Waygh and Tendulkar. You might not always get the output but it's always interesting to watch.

If this is a subtle way of reminding me I still owe you a steak, you can gagf. Even if I get you a steak, it won't be wagyu.

 

[Burgey]

Shock me.

 

[mr_mister]

one last little attempt to derail the thread: steaks are overrated AF

 

[Jono]

Kohli agrees - he prefers Maccas and Nandos

 

[mr_mister]

i imagine lehmann promotes a similar diet. that stupid homework coach(forget his name) probably made everyone eat some bullshit vegan diet

 

[Dan]

Found Smith's batting erratic in the beginning. Played far too many shots for my liking and given what I made of his batting ability technically. Question: given that he started off as a leg spinner who could bat to an extent, when did he improve as a batsman?

I love Smith now. I rate him very highly, as should every one else who doesn't.

See, this is the problem. The bolded was never actually true (perhaps aside from his 19-year-old forays in the NSW T20 team, where he confused everyone with the ball but didn't get much of a hit with the bat). At absolute best, in terms of that statement, he was an equally-balanced all-rounder. More realistically, he was a slightly less egregrious version of Cameron White in the Test team. He was never actually bowling-centric, despite Australia picking him in that role and him showing plenty of promise with the ball.

If memory serves, he only picked up leggies in his mid teens ffs

 

[mr_mister]

if youre blonde and bowl leggies now the country thinks you're destined to be a bowling god


see white, smith, warner

 

[honestbharani]

Hasnt Warner switched to medium pace?