* Official * WI & Eng tour of Australia

[trundler]

You know what's really funny? This is exactly the type of innings/game where a Steve Smith would be ideal to build the innings around

But no it's more important to fill the team with sloggy-hacks because tWeNtY tWeNtY nEeD sIxEs

Or the guys they've picked could take this seriously and not bat like morons. With Marsh at 3, there's no room for Smith. He's a liability.

 

[Burgey]

David is such a myth too

 

[TheJediBrah]

Or the guys they've picked could take this seriously and not bat like morons. With Marsh at 3, there's no room for Smith. He's a liability.

This is exactly the attitude that a lot of people have, and it's just so wrong

 

[Burgey]

Or the guys they've picked could take this seriously and not bat like morons. With Marsh at 3, there's no room for Smith. He's a liability.

This demonstrates a fundamental lack of knowledge of, well, cricket tbh.

 

[trundler]

How many balls is he going to face on average batting 4? Smith does not have the ability to accelerate that guys like Kohli or even Malan do. Sure you guys need guys who actually know how to build a long innings but Smith has never demonstrated the prerequisite ability to accelerate in T20s. Even his best ODI knocks are usually when he steadies the ship but that still requires someone else to come in and have a slog to get the run rate up. There simply aren't enough balls in T20s. Smith sucks the momentum out of every RR innings in the IPL year in and out which is pretty funny though.

 

[Burgey]

But no one cares about the ipl

 

[Burgey]

David had the look of a bloke who wondered why that was caught when it would easily have been six on a postage stamp in Singapore. Woeful.

Also, didn’t he used to bowl? Haven’t seen him roll his arm over. Maybe he should

 

[trundler]

Smith is the modern version of Dravid in ODIs back in the day. Some will argue he was good actually when he plainly wasn't.

 

[TheJediBrah]

How many balls is he going to face on average batting 4? Smith does not have the ability to accelerate that guys like Kohli or even Malan do. Sure you guys need guys who actually know how to build a long innings but Smith has never demonstrated the prerequisite ability to accelerate in T20s. Even his best ODI knocks are usually when he steadies the ship but that still requires someone else to come in and have a slog to get the run rate up. There simply aren't enough balls in T20s. Smith sucks the momentum out of every RR innings in the IPL year in and out which is pretty funny though.

The bloke made consecutive 60-ball hundreds in ODIs a couple years ago. He can accelerate fine. Not every T20 is on a road with a par score of 190, you get slow wickets, variable bounce, turning wickets etc. where 140 is a good score. Having at least 1 guy like Smith is vital, and when you've got one as good as Smith is (not to mention the best fielder in the country) you're crazy not to pick him

If you've already got Warner, Green, Marsh, Wade, Stoinis having a similar, but much worse, player like David when you could have Smith is just dumb

 

[Burgey]

Smith is the modern version of Dravid in ODIs back in the day. Some will argue he was good actually when he plainly wasn't.

He’s been fine in ODIs Wtf are you on about?

 

[TheJediBrah]

I think he means Smith in T20s is like Dravid in ODIs

 

[trundler]

The bloke made consecutive 60-ball hundreds in ODIs a couple years ago. He can accelerate fine. Not every T20 is on a road with a par score of 190, you get slow wickets, variable bounce, turning wickets etc. where 140 is a good score. Having at least 1 guy like Smith is vital, and when you've got one as good as Smith is (not to mention the best fielder in the country) you're crazy not to pick him

If you've already got Warner, Green, Marsh, Wade, Stoinis having a similar, but much worse, player like David when you could have Smith is just dumb

2 good ODI tons against Draini isn't a lot over a 10 year career tbh. At 4 in T20s he strikes at 109. That clearly doesn't meet the minimum standard for even an anchor. If Marsh is batting at 3, his job is hold the fort. Tell him to do better. Smith's numbers at 3 are good actually but that's his only spot.

 

[trundler]

Yeah I meant T20s.

 

[TheJediBrah]

2 good ODI tons against Draini isn't a lot over a 10 year career tbh. At 4 in T20s he strikes at 109. That clearly doesn't meet the minimum standard for even an anchor. If Marsh is batting at 3, his job is hold the fort. Tell him to do better. Smith's numbers at 3 are good actually but that's his only spot.

His numbers haven't been the best, that's true. But class shines through, and if Australia pick a side of pure sloggers without him it will backfire on them at an important moment

 

[Burgey]

If Marsh is batting at 3, his job is hold the fort.

“Here’s Mitch Marsh, he’ll steady the ship.”

- No one. Ever.

 

[Burgey]

This has been a really good partnership. Realistically, finch will be playing the WC so it can only be good for him to spend some time in the middle for a change

 

[trundler]

His numbers haven't been the best, that's true. But class shines through, and if Australia pick a side of pure sloggers without him it will backfire on them at an important moment

I don't disagree with this. If Root wants to play the T20 WC he's the second batsman I'm picking regardless of who has to make room. That's because Root doesn't get bogged down though and has unconventional options to bail him out against spinners. Smith can get tied down and on 9/10 pitches that's a problem.

“Here’s Mitch Marsh, he’ll steady the ship.”

- No one. Ever.

He's bad at this job then.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Yeah Finch has done well here but a part of me still thinks it's needed a lot of luck. Hasn't looked fluid

I don't disagree with this. If Root wants to play the T20 WC he's the second batsman I'm picking regardless of who has to make room. That's because Root doesn't get bogged down though and has unconventional options to bail him out against spinners. Smith can get tied down and on 9/10 pitches that's a problem.

You're reasoning is sound, but your conclusion is wrong. I've watched these guys nearly every game for years, and Smith would be one of my first picks. He'll win you games when it's needed

 

[Burgey]

Yeah so put someone there who’s better than Marsh

 

[Burgey]

Yeah Finch has done well here but a part of me still thinks it's needed a lot of luck. Hasn't looked fluid

I don’t think it’s been that easy a deck to bat properly on tbh.

Really liked the look of the leggie on dayboo tbh