***Official*** Australia in South Africa 2018

[Gob]

I reckon the closest thing to a weakness in Smith’s game is his against left-arm offies; been out a lot to them in past 18 months.

Particularly on the cut. Think he does not go back enough compared to say Clarke Ponting

 

[stephen]

My assessment of the match situation just went from fairly strongly in favour of Australia to in the balance and probably in favour of South Africa.

I don't think I've ever been close to as afraid of a batsman as I am of Smith this series.

I'm in full agreement. A set Smith on 50 vs the Marsh brothers is a huge difference.

And the psychology of him "only" scoring a half century is just crazy.

 

[quincywagstaff]

Yeah. But usually it’s c. Fatigue b. Left Arm Spinner 185.

On SL & Bangladesh tours he was kept in check by his standards and vast majority were to LAO.

On India tour though even though Jadeja got him a few times it was usually after being there for three days.

 

[TheJediBrah]

On SL & Bangladesh tours he was kept in check by his standards and vast majority were to LAO.

On India tour though even though Jadeja got him a few times it was usually after being there for three days.

Also he got dropped about 74 times in the series

 

[Spark]

Fun times trying to work out who's on strike on cricinfo rn

 

[Darwin Award]

He's actually been doing that a lot lately. His last Test innings in Sydney was similar, made 60 odd never looked like getting out, then randomly hit a caught and bowled to part time spinner.

Smith didn't get '60 odd' in Sydney.


He was out for a disappointing 83.

 

[Gnske]

Smith didn't get '60 odd' in Sydney.


He was out for a disappointing 83.

His memory isn't too good. You tell him the Allies won WW2 and he'd go catatonic.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Also he got dropped about 74 times in the series

Only at Pune. Was completely chanceless in the other two tons I think.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Didn't even get to his average. What a scrub.

 

[Bijed]

If my ability to use statsguru serves me well, this is the first time since the UAE tour 2014 that Smith has been out for more than one score of between 50 & 100 before making his next century. He had two occurrences of consecutive scores in that range against NZ in 2016, but in both cases one was not-out.

 

[OverratedSanity]

If my ability to use statsguru serves me well, this is the first time since the UAE tour 2014 that Smith has been out for more than one score of between 50 & 100 before making his next century. He had two occurrences of consecutive scores in that range against NZ in 2016, but in both cases one was not-out.

This is the kind of stats analysis we need more of.

 

[Gob]

This is the kind of stats analysis we need more of.

I like sunilz ones more

 

[StephenZA]

Good session for Aus losing just 1 wicket.... but taking out Smith is like 3 wickets. So honours even? SA ideally want to bowl Aus out for anything under 300ish. So cliche.... big 3rd session!

 

[Darwin Award]

If my ability to use statsguru serves me well, this is the first time since the UAE tour 2014 that Smith has been out for more than one score of between 50 & 100 before making his next century. He had two occurrences of consecutive scores in that range against NZ in 2016, but in both cases one was not-out.

... ... And the decline for Mr 947 begins...

 

[Spark]

Lazy batting thus far today. Really should not be 5 down.

 

[Burgey]

MMarsh should just be bombing this finger spinning poo. Treat the discipline with the contempt it so richly deserves.

 

[SeamUp]

Lower-order runs this series could prove crucial. Still Starc and Cummins to come after these 2.

 

[Burgey]

300-350 might be a good score here. Looks a bit two paced and pretty dry. Long way away though.

 

[Daemon]

Fairly certain I'm a better bowler than de Bruyn.

 

[Spark]

Paine probably would've wanted to give the dressing room a wide berth had he managed to get out to that.