The other Steve Smith question - Who would you try and get him out ?

[Midwinter]

If you were fronting up to bowl against Smith what would your plan be ?

Given he moves back and across for every ball, it should be simple to devise a strategy that woud exploit that movement. (obviously it is not )

Attack leg stump with fast yorkers ?

Bowl just short of a length on a 4th stump line and try to get him to play ''inside out" to get caught in covers ?

any thoughts ?

 

[the big bambino]

Put every man on the boundary and wait for him to die.

 

[trundler]

Aim for the stumps and hope he misses one, duh.

 

[Midwinter]

**** it, mucked up the title

Please use other thread

Can this one be deleted ?

 

[Starfighter]

Bowl a regular channel line, maybe even a bit wider as he moves across, and try not to stray onto his pads. Maybe with a more defensive field, certainly block his favoured leg side shots, but don't overdo it. He has also seemed to have a bit of trouble against orthodox spin, but that being said he scored plenty of runs against Jadeja in India, so I wouldn't rely on it. But 'normal' tactics are your best bet against any batsman, even ones like Smith.

 

[Flem274*]

yep, in the channel, maybe even a hint back of a length so he can't enjoy his front foot drives or whips through the legside. that or just a constant bouncer barrage to keep him playing either predictable shots that are high risk or to bog him down if he's trying to control an australian collapse.

 

[Test_Fan_Only]

me bowling, hope he gets out because he is laughing too much

Seriously though, line, length and moving the ball both ways both either through the air or off the pitch.

 

[harsh.ag]

A chinaman googly hitting the top of off stump. After four regular deliveries.

 

[TheJediBrah]

lure him out of the crease with a scrap of sandpaper on a good length and fire one down leg

 

[stephen]

5th stump line on a good length. With his movement this turns into a 4th stump line. It's too short to drive, too full to pull or cut. He has to leave or play.

Put in three slips, gully, point, mid on and mid off up, mid wicket, fine leg. This leaves a gap at both cover and square on the leg side. Make him cover drive or pull for his runs. With the 5th stump line pulling is risky. The good length makes cover driving risky.

Obviously there's not much room for error with this plan but there never is bowling to the best batsman in world cricket.

 

[Son Of Coco]

yep, in the channel, maybe even a hint back of a length so he can't enjoy his front foot drives or whips through the legside. that or just a constant bouncer barrage to keep him playing either predictable shots that are high risk or to bog him down if he's trying to control an australian collapse.

This was tried in Australia last Ashes series though, and he just waited it out and then cashed in.

The biggest issue with bowling to Smith is, unlike many other batsmen, he is prepared to adjust not just to score runs, but simply to stay in. He wants to be in the middle first and foremost, and is prepared to wait it out to score his runs.

 

[stephen]

The correct answer is to give him a single and get the other guy out.

 

[Victor Ian]

I would try to sneak into the dressing rooms and hide some sandpaper in his pockets. Then ask the umps to check him on the field. Low percentage, but he's out for a year if it works.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

This was tried in Australia last Ashes series though, and he just waited it out and then cashed in.

The biggest issue with bowling to Smith is, unlike many other batsmen, he is prepared to adjust not just to score runs, but simply to stay in. He wants to be in the middle first and foremost, and is prepared to wait it out to score his runs.

Plus when he is scoring he isn't like a Lara or KP in that you think you have a chance of an error with him hitting it in the air as the bugger doesn't very often and when he does it is into a huge gap with total control. Just a freak.

 

[fredfertang]

The correct answer is to give him a single and get the other guy out.

....... and once you’ve done that nine times he’ll get himself out after a while - simples

 

[Gob]

I would try to sneak into the dressing rooms and hide some sandpaper in his pockets. Then ask the umps to check him on the field. Low percentage, but he's out for a year if it works.

 

[Flem274*]

im sure teams have already compiled this (then again, international teams can be really dumb) but it would be interesting to see a dismissals compilation, especially of when he's out early.

 

[TheJediBrah]

im sure teams have already compiled this (then again, international teams can be really dumb) but it would be interesting to see a dismissals compilation, especially of when he's out early.

I haven't done this exactly but from memory it's pretty standard dismissals. Mostly good line and length balls edging behind and a few lbws. More so a good length just outside off.

 

[social]

I haven't done this exactly but from memory it's pretty standard dismissals. Mostly good line and length balls edging behind and a few lbws. More so a good length just outside off.

He’s an extremely rare case of a sportsman who has psyched virtually every opponent out

Reality Smith is like most batsman in the history of cricket who can play the short ball

Keep it on or around off stump and maybe a touch further up than normal

Get funky and get destroyed

Get too straight and get destroyed

Get too wide and he will outlast you

 

[vcs]

Don't think he even played and missed in that second innings. Looked so solid.