***Official*** India in Australia 2014-5

[GotSpin]

Eurgh. Didnt realise Marsh Was 31. Makes the decisión even worse

 

[Nate]

golden years

 

[Dan]

He's in a good head space.

 

[Spikey]

'I've grown up' | Cricket Features | Global | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[dermo]

I'm just worried it'll affect TPC's batting, tbh.

i understand where your coming from but i've seen the line "he's in such good form atm dont want to ruin it" thrown around a bit as a reason why smith shouldnt be captain, it's pretty ridiculous really, is it a good time to give him the captaincy when he's horribly out of form?

i think theyre accepting there's every chance clarke wont make it back and haddin probably isn't a lock for the ashes just yet and you wouldnt want smith's first series as skipper to be the first ashes test

its probably not the ideal time for smith to take over but it could definitely be worse

 

[Cabinet96]

Australia are 1-0 in the series and about to play a test at the Gabba in a match they're huge favourites for. You probably won't get many better chances to give him a pressure off winning start as skipper. In that respect it's definitely better to give him it now than find out in May Clarke's test career is over and have the first Ashes test Smitteh's captaincy debut.

 

[Gnske]

His batting stayed pretty effective when he's been captaining NSW, obviously it's a step up when your captaining your national side but given the form he's in and the state of the series and opposition there's no better time to give him a go.

 

[adub]

Being Captain hasn't hurt TPC's form when playing for NSW. Some blokes struggle under the pressure, some thrive on it. Smitteh looks like a thriver.

 

[Cabinet96]

It can take its toll eventually though. Cook got 6 tons in his first 7 tests as captain. None in his last 17. Strauss was similar.

Of course there are probably other factors in such trends, but it's still interesting.

 

[uvelocity]

them being poms wouldnt have helped

 

[Gob]

he is going to ton up along with gravey.

 

[Riggins]

one of them needs to fail eventually.

 

[Spikey]

Typical south Australian thinking

 

[howardj]

the security crackdown at the already crackdowned gabba will be huge in light of the lindt cafe siege

i fear all banners could be banned

serious

they are so OTT at fortress gabba

 

[adub]

Typical south Australian thinking

Nah South Australian thinking is "one of them needs to succeed eventually. "

 

[Riggins]

Don't think it's unreasonable to suggest they wont both make a hundred every time they bat for the rest of their careers.

 

[uvelocity]

not at all

 

[uvelocity]

although they may remain not out for less than a hundred in a small chase tbf

 

[flibbertyjibber]

A sign that Clarke has played his last Test?

You wonder whether he was planning on going after the WC from all forms and the injury means he may well be gone, hope not as he is such a good player but with all the injuries and everything else it would be no surprise if he said enough was enough.

Be fascinating to see how Smith goes as captain.

 

[Spikey]

really hope smitteh brings a guitar out when he does the toss