Steve Smith

[dan warna]

Did CA invite brian waldron to do their contracts? seriously WTF!

get israel folau out there playing cricket.

let me add his ODI form as well.

24 games, batting average of 23, bowling average of 33.23, 11 catches.

His FC form is an average of 42 with the bat and 48 with the ball, his domestic 50 over form is 32 with the bat and 34.8 with the ball.

Pretty much average form all round.

Now where is marcus north?

 

[BarneyBent]

Actually, that ODI record is pretty solid....

His contract is ridiculous, of course. But what do people expect? He's a 22 year old, marketable, talented legspinning allrounder who plays and has represented Australia in all three formats. It's no secret CA have a boner for him.

 

[dan warna]

Actually, that ODI record is pretty solid....

His contract is ridiculous, of course. But what do people expect? He's a 22 year old, marketable, talented legspinning allrounder who plays and has represented Australia in all three formats. It's no secret CA have a boner for him.

batting at 23 and bowling at 33? his bowling numbers are acceptable, but really they don't give him more than 3 overs a game, and then usually to tail enders.

He's too much of a risk against any one who can bat...

his first class batting average is 42 which is average, and his bowling average is, embarrassing.

 

[Simple Jack]

Actually, that ODI record is pretty solid....

His contract is ridiculous, of course. But what do people expect? He's a 22 year old, marketable, talented legspinning allrounder who plays and has represented Australia in all three formats. It's no secret CA have a boner for him.

Yes but not because he deserved it, which is the problem I have with the pay packet.

 

[Bomber Bears]

batting at 23 and bowling at 33? his bowling numbers are acceptable, but really they don't give him more than 3 overs a game, and then usually to tail enders.

He's too much of a risk against any one who can bat...

his first class batting average is 42 which is average, and his bowling average is, embarrassing.

He certainly shouldnt be in the international side at present, but his first class average of 42 basically took a hit from the step up to international cricket - when he came in he was coming off a season with 4 centuries and an average in the 70's. His form last year was terrible, however, particularly when selected for perth, part of the reason the selection made no sense.

He's a talented player who has been picked well before his time.

 

[The_Reaper]

He certainly shouldnt be in the international side at present, but his first class average of 42 basically took a hit from the step up to international cricket - when he came in he was coming off a season with 4 centuries and an average in the 70's. His form last year was terrible, however, particularly when selected for perth, part of the reason the selection made no sense.

He's a talented player who has been picked well before his time.

And unfortunately could be destroyed before his time.

He clearly isn't up to it yet, and playing him right now is not going to help his development one bit.

 

[Ill Chicken]

The ridiculous part about it is, they picked him in a massive series at home, with huge scrutiny over the team and then they don't pick him on an away tour where there is less attention and against a team that arguably doesn't have any world beaters in their bowling attack.

But it isn't surprising as its exactly how the selection panel has been operating over the last four years.

 

[peternorth]

Actually, that ODI record is pretty solid....

His contract is ridiculous, of course. But what do people expect? He's a 22 year old, marketable, talented legspinning allrounder who plays and has represented Australia in all three formats. It's no secret CA have a boner for him.

that is the problem with cricket in australia today. its all about marketing

 

[Bomber Bears]

And unfortunately could be destroyed before his time.

He clearly isn't up to it yet, and playing him right now is not going to help his development one bit.

Agreed, very happy he wasnt in the test squad for Sri Lanka

 

[Black Diamond]

Smith is a much maligned figure on the Bigfooty Cricket Board. He isn't rated for his bowling and his talent isn't recognised with the bat, although I must admit it seems this is often to do with a reverse bias against NSW players. To me he has some technical flaws but is a talented player who could become a mainstay of the Australian middle-order.

In relative terms he has had a pretty good season in the Shield hitting 224 runs at 32 with a high score of 90. This isn't great but compare him to a Bigfooty favourite, Joe Burns, who has hit 427 at 27 with a high score of 120. You thought Burns had done better than that, didn't you? In fact, the only players eligible for selection in the Australian team to have done much better than Smith are Khawaja and Doolan (I don't count Hughes because he is already in the team, I don't count Haddin because he is a keeper, and I don't count Ponting or Rogers because neither have a chance of being picked).

Smith has looked impressive against India and has shown what can be achieved with a level head and by playing every ball on it's merits. My guess is this coincides with him being played as a legitimate middle-order batsman rather than a lower-order all-rounder. It's amazing what happens when you play somebody in a role they're actually suited to.

I'd like to see him hold his spot for the Ashes, preferably at four or five in the order and I'd like to see us persevere if he falters in the first couple of tests. He has the ability (you'll see it if you take the blinkers off) but you actually have to show faith in a player and give them a chance to battle through tough times. I'd seriously consider him in preference to Watson right now and if we give him a go I'd back him to be a better contributor than Cowan.

Also keep in mind we have seriously struggled to fill number four since Martyn was hung out after the 2005 Ashes. We have to groom a mainstay and I say Smith is it.

What do you think?

Edit: Guys, I made some errors with some of the stats above. Here they are for all first class matches for the 2012-13 summer. Note this is not just for the Shield, but all first class games. You can see Smith has done equal to or better statistically than everyone who is in with a chance except for Alex Doolan. Smith is a fair way ahead of Burns, who tends to hit more hundreds but also makes more ducks. Henriques is right up there but it remains to be seen in Smith is competing directly with him.

 

[djrossie16]

I like his chances for the middle order going forward

 

[brisbane13]

he has improved his technique, he looks like he has been to a few classes of the michael clarke batting school, ne now keeps his bat, head more still and is playing more straighter, (the ark)

 

[Shupe]

I was thinking about starting a similar thread - I'm of the opinion that he could be a star in our batting lineup.

 

[The_Reaper]

I want him in the A tour.

A decent performance there and he keeps his spot.

 

[Pevers-Legend]

Smith is a much maligned figure on the Bigfooty Cricket Board. He isn't rated for his bowling and his talent isn't recognised with the bat, although I must admit it seems this is often to do with a reverse bias against NSW players. To me he has some technical flaws but is a talented player who could become a mainstay of the Australian middle-order.

In relative terms he has had a pretty good season in the Shield hitting 224 runs at 32 with a high score of 90. This isn't great but compare him to a Bigfooty favourite, Joe Burns, who has hit 427 at 27 with a high score of 120. You thought Burns had done better than that, didn't you? In fact, the only players eligible for selection in the Australian team to have done much better than Smith are Khawaja and Doolan (I don't count Hughes because he is already in the team, I don't count Haddin because he is a keeper, and I don't count Ponting or Rogers because neither have a chance of being picked).

Smith has looked impressive against India and has shown what can be achieved with a level head and by playing every ball on it's merits. My guess is this coincides with him being played as a legitimate middle-order batsman rather than a lower-order all-rounder. It's amazing what happens when you play somebody in a role they're actually suited to.

I'd like to see him hold his spot for the Ashes, preferably at four or five in the order and I'd like to see us persevere if he falters in the first couple of tests. He has the ability (you'll see it if you take the blinkers off) but you actually have to show faith in a player and give them a chance to battle through tough times. I'd seriously consider him in preference to Watson right now and if we give him a go I'd back him to be a better contributor than Cowan.

Also keep in mind we have seriously struggled to fill number four since Martyn was hung out after the 2005 Ashes. We have to groom a mainstay and I say Smith is it.

What do you think?

Can add Ferguson to that list. Not that it matters.

 

[Black Diamond]

Can add Ferguson to that list. Not that it matters.

I think it's safe to say Ferguson isn't in the mix for a baggy green though.

 

[Pevers-Legend]

I think it's safe to say Ferguson isn't in the mix for a baggy green though.

I wouldn't have thought Smith was either LOL

 

[Black Diamond]

I wouldn't have thought Smith was either LOL

Ferguson has certainly exceed my expectations recently. Personally I think all Shield cricketers should be in with a chance (unless they are absolute ****wits) but just as it won't matter how well Rogers does, Ferguson simply won't be picked.

 

[Natho]

His technique is slowly getting there.

 

[Badesumofu]

He is a much improved batsman. A lot of people will find it hard to accept, but I think he deserves a spot in our top 6 now. In an ideal world, he would set the Sheffield Shield on fire for the next year or two before getting selected, but this is not an ideal world. I can't think of 6 bats ahead of him right now.

 

[The Speaker]

Should replace Watto at four.

 

[Caesar]

I want him in the A tour.

A decent performance there and he keeps his spot.

Yeah this.

He's massively underrated on this board, but at the same time I think this tour flatters him a little. Whilst he's a solid player, he gets exposed a bit by the swinging ball - plays a little too far away from his body, and as we saw this afternoon is sometimes a little unaware of where is off stump is.

A trip on the A tour, see how he goes on a few greentops, will rule him in or out for the Ashes.

 

[The Speaker]

Yeah this.

He's massively underrated on this board, but at the same time I think this tour flatters him a little. Whilst he's a solid player, he gets exposed a bit by the swinging ball - plays a little too far away from his body, and as we saw this afternoon is sometimes a little unaware of where is off stump is.

A trip on the A tour, see how he goes on a few greentops, will rule him in or out for the ashes.

Most Shield pitches are more or less greentops. Not always in the same way as English ones mind.

 

[The_Reaper]

Most Shield pitches are more or less greentops. Not always in the same way as English ones mind.

And Smith has had an average sort of season. Not bad but nothing that calls for test selection.

 

[Kyptastic]

I like what he has done this tour and he should definitely be in consideration. However, he's loved the most uncomfortable when facing the moving ball from the faster bowlers (see Kumar last test). Given what we're likely to get from England, he should be considered, but by no means a lock unless he is picked and performs on the A tour.