What do you think of Virat Kohli?

[TheJediBrah]

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

He was always more of a batsman through junior ranks. But you can see why the layman from overseas thinks he was a bowling all-rounder: that's what he was selected as at first, even if it was wrong.

 

[Dan]

Yeah indeed, which is why I'm pointing out the problems with the myth.

 

[Pratters]

When did he develop into the amazing batsman though? He didn't seem that good when he started off as a batsman for Australia..

 

[Burgey]

When he stopped staying leg side of the ball.

 

[Burgey]

TPC so great he's dominating kohli's thread. Brilliant.

 

[vcs]

He should know his responsibility koz yesterday he was fined 24 LAKH for slow over rate in IPL just few days ago 18 LAKH were charges for same reasons

He is test captain now be mature man.virat makes 513 CRORE in Advertizement per year dose not mean to waste his money in this manner

That's more than enough for most people in India to live comfortably for a year.

 

[TheJediBrah]

When did he develop into the amazing batsman though? He didn't seem that good when he started off as a batsman for Australia..

He was just picked too young to begin with, wasn't fully developed or ready for Test cricket

 

[vic_orthdox]

The biggest worry with Smith was that we'd just seen a guy who made more runs, younger, in Shield Cricket, who had a "different" technique who had been - in the eyes of a lot of cricket people, including Australian selectors - found out.

With what looked to be a low patch for the national team coming, there was the possibility he (and Hughes) could have ended up with careers that looked more like David Hookes than Steve Waugh.

 

[Daemon]

He was always more of a batsman through junior ranks. But you can see why the layman from overseas thinks he was a bowling all-rounder: that's what he was selected as at first, even if it was wrong.

Most praise Pratters has ever received

 

[Jono]

Mods sort this **** out.

 

[Prince EWS]

When did he develop into the amazing batsman though? He didn't seem that good when he started off as a batsman for Australia..

I think the short answer is the 2011-12 and 2012-13 domestics seasons. Chris Rogers wrote a prescient article in April 2012 about how Smith seemed to be developing at a better rate than the other young batsmen. It's a great read in the context of what has happened since.

Chris Rogers: Is Australian batting at an ebb? | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

EDIT: It is still important to recognise that this transition was one from 'good First Class batsman' to 'Test class batsman' though; not from bowler to batsman.

 

[Jono]

TPC so great he's dominating kohli's thread. Brilliant.

he can dominate the thread, Kohli will dominate the wahh baby's fiance.

 

[Adders]

Really wish that picture wasn't cut off at the bottom..........I reckon shes giving it a rub.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Really wish that picture wasn't cut off at the bottom..........I reckon shes giving it a rub.

Probably overestimating Kohli's length a tad imo

 

[duffer]

Probably overestimating Kohli's length a tad imo

Jono to clarify.

 

[G.I.Joe]

Smith's giving it a rub too, in a Freudian manner of speaking.

 

[Adders]

Probably overestimating Kohli's length a tad imo

Sorry, I should have been clearer.......she's giving herself a cheeky rub.

 

[Furball]

Did Smith not score 4 tons for NSW in the 2009/10 Shield season?

He came into the side with a 50 FC average, at a time when Australian domestic pitches were rubbish for batting.

 

[Kirkut]

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.

He was brought into the team as a specialist leg spin bowler after Nathan Hauritz's confidence began to fade, also was dubbed by the Aussie media as the next Warne. I took notice of his batting skills in Ashes 2013, after Clarke the only Aussie player in that series who looked well set against the duke ball.

I do rate Smith above KW and Root, he may not be as technically sound as the latter two but can obliterate bowling attacks at a scary rate when in the zone.

 

[andruid]

Some of us still think of Sourav Ganguly

>>>>>>>> Virat Kohli