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

[Spark]

Look at their career records, they're virtually identical. Both have bullied India. Root averages 33 against Australia and Smith 37 against England &. The only thing in Smith's favour is a ton against South Africa and Root is yet to play against them. Not suggesting either is better, but let's not make out their records are remarkably different.

Smith's performances against England, which include a number of clutch first innings knocks >>>>>>>>>> Root against Australia, which basically come down to bashing a disintegrating attack in a Test already won and a hopeless cause. So yeah, comfortable in saying "remarkably different".

 

[Zinzan]

Smith scored runs against England and South Africa. Against Australia Root generally struggled.

That was incredibly tough bowling to face in that last Ashes series, I mean NO English batsmen prospered. You telling be Smith would have been smashing Johnson, Harris & Co around the park?

 

[ajdude]

Tossing up gym vs kfc in the lunch break. Dermo help a bro out.

should've had the kfc as a pre-workout meal

 

[cnerd123]

Well in that respect there's nothing at all wrong with minnow bashing. It's a really valuable skill.

Sure it is. Just don't read into this as Smith peaking or being the best batsman in the world or smth.

 

[Cabinet96]

As hard as it gets eh.

Both.

Indeed. Balance it out.

 

[Spikey]

I love that Warne truly believes in that "3 maidens in a row" thing

 

[Spark]

Sure it is. Just don't read into this as Smith peaking or being the best batsman in the world or smth.

and today in things that no one has actually said

 

[Swingpanzee]

Really Kohli? Raina?

 

[Antihippy]

Look at their career records, they're virtually identical. Both have bullied India. Root averages 33 against Australia and Smith 37 against England &. The only thing in Smith's favour is a ton against South Africa and Root is yet to play against them. Not suggesting either is better, but let's not make out their records are remarkably different.

You gotta remember that Smith had a period where he was playing primarily as a bowler.

I'd be interested to see his record since 2013.

 

[Zinzan]

Smith's performances against England, which include a number of clutch first innings knocks >>>>>>>>>> Root against Australia, which basically come down to bashing a disintegrating attack in a Test already won and a hopeless cause. So yeah, comfortable in saying "remarkably different".

I think you're doing your own ferocious bowling attack a disservice if you don't recognize the significantly different challenges Smith and Root faced in that last Ashes series. Do I need to remind you Johnson got his 37 wickets @ 13?

I repeat NO English batsman prospered against him, including an ATG like Pietersen. You just have to acknowledge when someone is too good. Really unfair comparison between Root and Smith.

 

[cnerd123]

Seriously though the bloke is 25. Batsmen don't peak at 25.

and today in things that no one has actually said

...

 

[Tangles]

Top effort by darsh to be looking for a quick single to help out young Joe. Bastard.

 

[Spark]

...

yes indeed bastmen do not peak at 25.

which is why smith isn't peaking.

because he's 25.

i have absolutely no idea how you've taken a post where the whole point was "this isn't even smith's peak, look how young he is" and turned it into "this is smith's peak!"

 

[Antihippy]

I think you're doing your own ferocious bowling attack a disservice if you don't recognize the significantly different challenges Smith and Root faced in that last Ashes series. Do I need to remind you Johnson got his 37 wickets @ 13?

I repeat NO English batsman prospered against him, including some a great like Pietersen. You just have to acknowledge when someone is too good.

Did well in south Africa though. That Dale steyn bloke can be pretty good.

 

[Spark]

I think you're doing your own ferocious bowling attack a disservice if you don't recognize the significantly different challenges Smith and Root faced in that last Ashes series. Do I need to remind you Johnson got his 37 wickets @ 13?

I repeat NO English batsman prospered against him, including an ATG like Pietersen. You just have to acknowledge when someone is too good. Really unfair comparison between Root and Smith.

Broad and Anderson are pretty decent bowlers too and regularly had our top order in all sorts (and they are probably peerless at home). And yep, Harris and Johnson were brilliant, and they exposed a massive flaw in Root's front foot technique which I am yet to be convinced he's rectified. But I've gone on about this plenty before.

 

[morgieb]

Bell prospered against Australia in their home series. Where Root did little barring a big ton when the Test was basically already won.

 

[Zinzan]

Did well in south Africa though. That Dale steyn bloke can be pretty good.

That's why I acknowledged the only real difference is Smith got a hundred against SA, granted. Steyn overall is and has been a better fast bowler than Johnson, no doubt. But Johnson's form, pace & ferociousness in that particular series was something else imho, and actually more intimidating than I've seen from Steyn in terms of real fear factor.

 

[Antihippy]

Also if you want to talk about prospering when everyone around you is dropping like flies just look at the UAE. Only he and David Warner got any credit during that tour.

 

[howardj]

Massive sliding-doors innings for Burns

A tidy 50, books a ticket to the Carribean (and perhaps beyond to the Ashes given the current state of Windies cricket)

On the other hand, a failure will see him condemned to joining (the very infamous) fellow Queenslander Scott Muller as a two-Test wonder

 

[Spark]

That's why I acknowledged the only real difference is Smith got a hundred against SA, granted. Steyn overall is and has been a better fast bowler than Johnson, no doubt. But Johnson's form, pace & ferociousness in that particular series was something else imho, and actually more intimidating than I've seen from Steyn in terms of real fear factor.

In what world is being **** against an exceptional attack = being good against a very good attack?