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

howardj

International Coach
Smith has just confirmed that Watson will stay at 3

Burns will bat at 6

Good to see another greenhorn not introduced into the international furnace at 3
 

Debris

International 12th Man
Smith has just confirmed that Watson will stay at 3

Burns will bat at 6

Good to see another greenhorn not introduced into the international furnace at 3
Also means that Watson can't keep his place with cheap runs, he will need to earn them.
 

Cabinet96

Hall of Fame Member
Maxwell strikes me as being in the same position Smith was 4 years ago.

Capable OD player who really needs a full season of Shield cricket to properly learn his game.
Pretty sure this was not the situation with Smith four years ago at all.
 

JBMAC

State Captain
Joe Burns gets a Boxing Day Test debut, replacing the injured Mitchell Marsh at number six in the batting order.

Mitchell Starc is also dropped, Ryan Harris is back in the XI.


AUSTRALIA XI for the Boxing Day Test: Chris Rogers, David Warner, Shane Watson, Steve Smith (c), Shaun Marsh, Joe Burns, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
 

Spikey

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Pretty sure this was not the situation with Smith four years ago at all.
The biggest similarity is the level of heat each received following the big embarrassing series losers (ashes, india, uae) was way harsher than it should have been, given they a) didn't play all the series and b) probably werent even the worst performed players

The biggest difference is that following the Ashes Steve Smith batted 3-4-5 while Maxwell is batting 6-7 (despite speculation at one point that Maxwell would be tried higher up), and yeah it's kinda picky and a bit harsh towards him, but Maxwell smashing run-a-ball tons when coming in with Victoria ****ed already and having a license to hit....well we know Maxwell is talented. We know he can smash a ball.
 

Cabinet96

Hall of Fame Member
I'm pretty sure Smith was selected off the back of an awesome 09/10 FC season batting at 6(?). And he's pretty much always been a more competent longer format batsman from my following of him. Maxwell has actually showed a decent amount of one day promise, whereas Smith's first real ODI innings of not only came a few months ago.
 

Spark

Global Moderator
I'm pretty sure Smith was selected off the back of an awesome 09/10 FC season batting at 6(?). And he's pretty much always been a more competent longer format batsman from my following of him. Maxwell has actually showed a decent amount of one day promise, whereas Smith's first real ODI innings of not only came a few months ago.
A fair few of us were calling for Smith to be picked at the time he debuted... but as a batsman, in place of North.
 

Burgey

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Joe Burns gets a Boxing Day Test debut, replacing the injured Mitchell Marsh at number six in the batting order.

Mitchell Starc is also dropped, Ryan Harris is back in the XI.


AUSTRALIA XI for the Boxing Day Test: Chris Rogers, David Warner, Shane Watson, Steve Smith (c), Shaun Marsh, Joe Burns, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
JB, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on how Smith has developed as a player and what you think has seen him go from a pretty average player to a genuine Test player. Do you reckon it's more attitude or technical, and if the latter, what do you think are the biggest changes he's made?
 

Johnners

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
I'm loving the fact that Ponting, my first cricketing Idol, has now become my favorite pundit as well. His articles on cricinfo (the latest here hits the nail on the head) have been excellent, and his commentary in the BBL has been exceptional as well. All hail Ricky (CH9 to please take note and tell Lee/Slats/Brayshaw/Healy to **** right off)
 

howardj

International Coach
He was offered a spot on 9 last summer, but 10 were paying more

Plus he doesn't want to hang around Tests anymore apparently (i.e being away for 5 days)
 

JBMAC

State Captain
JB, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on how Smith has developed as a player and what you think has seen him go from a pretty average player to a genuine Test player. Do you reckon it's more attitude or technical, and if the latter, what do you think are the biggest changes he's made?
Burgey, from what I have seen it is an attitude adjustment(Major). He still bats in that ,I suppose you would call it clumsy, way. He still hold his hands wrong, plants his feet in a strange way and takes a seemingly awkward approach to shot playing. When I first saw him play he was being mooted as the next "Shane Warne"(A leggie who can bat a bit.).Where his change of attitude has come from?Who knows. It appears some of the older pundits have been giving him some sound advice on his attitude as he has turned from a chubby faced kid into a mature player who can read a game.I have to admit when his Captaincy was announced I was sceptical. Even some of his decisions as Skipper puzzled me at first BUT he proved me wrong.
 

dognutz

U19 12th Man
Quite happy with the chosen squad although not sure that Smarsh should be there.

With regard to the crappy, cringeworthy commentary on ch9, I wonder how much of it is due to the network's hierachy insisting on a certain amount of hype being thrown into the mix. Integrity is not something the brainstrust at 9 can spell let alone implement. In Kerry Packer's era they were number one. Now they're sickening so it's fair to assume some of their disingenuous, tacky, hyped-up style has rubbed off on the commentary team. Mark Nicholas is the helmsman for Christ's sake!!
 

Pratters

Cricket, Lovely Cricket
A fair few of us were calling for Smith to be picked at the time he debuted... but as a batsman, in place of North.
I remember seeing Smith when he started off for Australia and I was not too impressed with him. Played too many shots at the time. It is great to see how he has developed.
 

Gob

International Coach
smith used to be pretty unorthodox back in the day . That's not maxwells problem.big show just has to stop try making things out of nothing ie keeping out good balls.if he learns to play each ball accordingly, with his ability he could become a good batsman.
 

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