Nate
You'll Never Walk Alone
So in your first paragraph you say he isn't good enough, but in your second, if we had better players, he would be? That's what is making me confused.
If you picked Smith at 8, where would the other ten overs come from?
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Australian Discussion (Final Squad Announced Post #82)
- Thread starter Mike5181
- Start date
If you picked Smith at 8, where would the other ten overs come from?
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Watto and Dussey I guess. Wouldn't be all bad; I wouldn't go that way though.
Anyway, personal opinion on Smith is that while his bowling seems to have more raw potential to be Test/ODI class on its strength alone, he knows his game as a batsman a lot better at this point so it's more likely to be immediately successfully.
Smith's current role is to supply power hitting from seven and act as a partnership breaker with the ball. I think that's the best role for him - showcasing his natural talent by hitting at the death and coming on to bowl attacking stuff when Australia need a breakthrough. I don't think he quite has it in him to consistently build innings of substance or bowl to the situation just yet, but in the role he's been given I think he'll be successful. In other words, I completely disagree with pup11.
pup11
International Coach
When we had a stronger batting line-up we got away with having likes of Symonds, Harvey, Hopes, White, Hogg, Watson batting at #7 and if that was still the case we could have managed with Smith at #7.
Anyways... AFAIC the first priority should be to try getting close to 10 overs out of Smith in pretty much every game and if he does that then he can play instead of Crayfish as the sole spinner, but if he can't bowl well in these conditions then I really don't see a place for him in the XI.
I don't agree with PEWS that a bloke batting at #7 should seal a place for himself in the side just on the basis of being able to score some runs with his power hitting or ability to roll his arm over every now and then.
It shouldn't be forgotten that Smith is playing ahead of the likes of Christian, Hopes and Birt who all probably would have added a lot more value to the side, so Smith has to raise the bar of his game and put in good performances either with the bat or with the ball if not both, because atm he is just a bits and pieces player who would chip in with 15-20 quick runs or 3-4 overs which I really don't think is good enough.
Nate
You'll Never Walk Alone
Haha, DWTA. And I don't think that was the gist of PEWS' post, but nevermind.
I am so glad Smith is in ahead of Christian, Hopes or Birt.
robinjr
School Boy/Girl Captain
benchmark00
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Who cares?
robinjr
School Boy/Girl Captain
Gujarat Cricket
Association
benchmark00
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Mate, I'll glady give them $500 to replace it if it means that much.
Spikey
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is this a real post?
Spark
Global Moderator
You don't think so? Did you see him after he was run out? I wouldn't want to be within a 100 metres of the man when he was in that mood.
I remember some Indian caterer telling a newspaper article how he remembered, upon getting out, how Ponting/Clarke/Hayden etc. would be a serious threat to bats and chairs in the dressing room.
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TumTum
Banned
of course
Spark
Global Moderator
I must say I am somewhat surprised at the exact circumstances. Seemed he smashed the TV upon seeing the replay...
Spikey
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no really, was it a serious post?
TumTum
Banned
yes
Krejza = Aggressive Spinner
Dussey = Defensive Spinner
Smith = Partnership breaker / Different spin style
Watson = Partnership breaker / Economical
Hasting (if he plays) = Variations / Economical
Lee/Tait/Johnson/Bollinger = Strike bowlers
Our problem before was that Hauritz even though bowled good lines and flight, he can't take advantage of some of the spin helpful tracks in the SC.
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pup11
International Coach
So you are telling me that you would just close your eyes and disregard the performances that those three guys have put up in domestic cricket over the last two seasons and hope that Smith who has virtually done nothing much of note for the Blues in OD cricket would all of sudden start to perform at the international level...??