Yeah, I thought that especially after he did seem to go back to a more conventional guard last summer and peeled off runs for fun again. Never underestimate the stubbornness of the aging great batsman but I really cannot fathom why he's changed or whether his mind is just spinning from having to open.
Probably trying to encourage them to drive
when the ball is on that length at 130kph+ is there much you can do about movement regardless? Reckon you're pretty much committed to a shot by that stage
Smith's been asking to open as far back as the Ashes in England from memory, has had a fair amount of time to think about the move.
You have a much better chance if your head is in line with the ball to start with
I was more supportive of him opening than most, but I don't think it's going to work in the long run. I think he needs to do a Richards or Sobers and drop down to 5 or 6. Trouble is the middle order is very congested.
The way you survive a ball like that is a biiiiig stride down the wicket (or batting out of your crease) so you get hit outside the line. The way Smith and Khawaja bat playing from the crease it's a big vulnerability
I mean, it's not like incumbents have set the world alight of the last few games...
I mean, not a bad strategy. Aus need to make Southee think about saving runs. It's only 240 to go.
Yeah if we dream for a minute that our fast bowlers might stay fit and get good, Sears and O'Rourke look like they would complement each other very well. Both right arm at up to 140, but one bowls full outswing and the other short of a length shaping in.
You're right about this tbh. Only really Green likes to really defend with a big forward stride, the rest play from the crease.
Our bowling stocks are looking good, batting stocks not so much when Young is still our best back up batsman.