Steve Smith

[eddiesmith]

The ABC radio are praising it up as a fantastic move from Michael Clarke, showing he is ready to take control of this team and do things his way

 

[Knight Ryders]

^^Spot on Vettel. Smith in particular is a confidence player who could look a totally different proposition if he can get away for some runs or starts to take some wickets.

You even saw it today with the English bowlers; right after a wicket, they played some unplayable deliveries after not looking dangerous for 1/2 an hour.

New guys need to be given time to succeed if they are indeed picked. Hughes is a case in point to where we got it terribly wrong. He's never had a perfect technique, but he slapped the best bowlers all around the park. He only looks to now (18 months later) to be regaining the one great thing that young players have and that is confidence.

 

[Ruck Machine]

Makes more sense to have him at #7 then to have him at #6!

 

[Gazza_11]

I really would just play him as a full time bowler. He's got time on his hands, and can gradually move up the order. For now, just give him one task to focus on, and he's not up to batting at 6 just yet. Definitely a talented bowler though, and could do a Warne for a while, getting thrashed around for his first ten games but I wouldn't care. We could slot another young batsman into the middle order, and our batting would go down to 8 or 9.

 

[aneale]

makes perfect sense to bat him @ 7

 

[Adz87]

Smith has talent, but he needs to work with Warnie long and hard, for a leggy his bowling arm is too high. Hard to impart side spin on the ball when you're brushing your ear.

 

[Higs]

It makes sense because Haddin is a better and more in form batsman right now and was thus promoted up the order. Simple really.

 

[Messenger]

True - that's where he originally started. But that would mean he's in the side as a full-time bowler which apparently he didn't want.

He is playing Test Cricket for Australia. I would have thought "what he wants" is immaterial.

I'd bat him at 8 and bring another specialist bat. If Smith is going to be in the XI, it sure as hell isn't for his batting.

 

[The_Reaper]

He is playing Test Cricket for Australia. I would have thought "what he wants" is immaterial.

I'd bat him at 8 and bring another specialist bat. If Smith is going to be in the XI, it sure as hell isn't for his batting.

Is Smith good enough to be a specialist bowler?

I'd play him for NSW.

Bring in Lynn

 

[benny_cousins]

It's a joke that he got a game in the first place really. With all the struggles with had with our batting this summer we've wasted a batting spot on a bloke that's not even good enough to bat at number 6. Lets all hope he is the one to go when Ponting comes back.

 

[frankrizzo]

batting smith at 7 is pretty much the selectors admitting he's not ready for test cricket.

He's not an all rounder, hell north is a more useful option right now with the ball, he's being piked as a specialist number 7 batsmen which is ridiculous.

 

[Tyberious Funk]

IMHO, if Smith is going to be in the team, I think batting him at 7 is a good idea. Haddin is a better batsman and is currently in good form. That said, this highlights that Smith probably shouldn't be in the team in the first place. I'm happy to give him a chance for the time being. But how long can a guy continue to get a game when his contributions are a handy 20-30 runs and a few overs of fairly erratic and mostly ineffective legspin?

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

IMHO, if Smith is going to be in the team, I think batting him at 7 is a good idea. Haddin is a better batsman and is currently in good form. That said, this highlights that Smith probably shouldn't be in the team in the first place. I'm happy to give him a chance for the time being. But how long can a guy continue to get a game when his contributions are a handy 20-30 runs and a few overs of fairly erratic and mostly ineffective legspin?

Gee I don't know, more than 2-3 tests would be nice.

The guy is replacing North, who everyone desperately wanted out of the side. I agree that he's probably quite lucky to be in the side but damn he's not that bad, I'm not sure about everyone else but I don't want players going in and out of the Australian side like it's a revolving door.

 

[LITTLE STINGA]

It makes sense because Haddin is a better and more in form batsman right now and was thus promoted up the order. Simple really.

Haddin should be at 4 then.

 

[LITTLE STINGA]

It's a joke that he got a game in the first place really. With all the struggles with had with our batting this summer we've wasted a batting spot on a bloke that's not even good enough to bat at number 6. Lets all hope he is the one to go when Ponting comes back.

He deserves a game ahead of Clarke. Drop a developing kid for an ex champion who doesn't know when to quit, it would be a terrible decision in a struggling team.

I don't think it makes much of a difference if the keeper bats ahead of the all rounder I just hope Smith makes some runs, something has to make Clarke accountable for the woeful batting displays.

 

[lemon chicken]

As has been said on the last page the captain decides the batting order has nothing to do with the people selecting the team.

 

[Plugger35]

If you are going to bat Smith down the order and play him as the specialist spinner then why wouldn't you just pick O'Keefe instead? He is also a useful lower order batsman and is a better spinner than Smith at the moment.

 

[The Fonz]

If you are going to bat Smith down the order and play him as the specialist spinner then why wouldn't you just pick O'Keefe instead? He is also a useful lower order batsman and is a better spinner than Smith at the moment.

Too logical to do Tony?
If you asked people to rank the four spinners: Hauritz, O'Keefe, Beer and Smith
Id be surprised if 100% didn't have Beer and Smith as the bottom two, but yet they're the two playing.

 

[Adz87]

Too logical to do Tony?
If you asked people to rank the four spinners: Hauritz, O'Keefe, Beer and Smith
Id be surprised if 100% didn't have Beer and Smith as the bottom two, but yet they're the two playing.

Beer is easily the best spinner in the country at the moment.

 

[Tyberious Funk]

Gee I don't know, more than 2-3 tests would be nice.

So more of an opportunity than, say, Andrew McDonald.

Interesting to see their comparative stats since they've both played 4 Test matches. They both average around the 20s with the bat (and both scored a 50). But with the ball, Smith has taken 3 wickets at an average of 55. McDonald took 9 wickets at an average of 33.

Somehow I suspect that Smith will be given a LOT more leeway than McDonald ever got.

 

[BlueandGoldforever]

Beer is easily the best spinner in the country at the moment.

This has to be a joke. Nothing he has done up until now justifies that comment.

 

[Partridge]

New guys need to be given time to succeed if they are indeed picked. Hughes is a case in point to where we got it terribly wrong. He's never had a perfect technique, but he slapped the best bowlers all around the park. He only looks to now (18 months later) to be regaining the one great thing that young players have and that is confidence.

Hughes might have his confidence back, but he lost his wicket to yet another horrendous shot.

 

[rickyp]

Hughes might have his confidence back, but he lost his wicket to yet another horrendous shot.

He looks to be building though. Looked far more secure than Watson in the early stages. Smith however doesn't really look like making runs at this point.

 

[Guardian Hawk]

Back when North was first picked, I thought it a good idea to go with a suitable younster then or bring in Dave Hussey - first class average of 56(North 44) and in incredible form at the time- still could have given Australia 5 years of top service as an experienced player through the transition period.

Now, I am probably in the minority, but I think Khawaja (24 y.o) should be given an extended run whilst Ponting deserved a chance down the order (still in our top 7 bats easily IMO). Smith (only 21 y.o. and very green) can have 1-2 seasons to consolidate at FC level with very clear instructions on how to develop and very obviously groomed for a role within the side (just been picked that little bit early for mine).

N.B For those that scream youth, he will still be very very young in cricketing terms in 1-2 years and I believe Ponting can offer a lot in the way of experience, guidance (particularly in partnerships with Khawaja) and less-pressured batting (down the order without captaincy ala Tendulkar) in the transitional meantime.

 

[The_Reaper]

So more of an opportunity than, say, Andrew McDonald.

Interesting to see their comparative stats since they've both played 4 Test matches. They both average around the 20s with the bat (and both scored a 50). But with the ball, Smith has taken 3 wickets at an average of 55. McDonald took 9 wickets at an average of 33.

Somehow I suspect that Smith will be given a LOT more leeway than McDonald ever got.

McDonald looked like a bunny at test level.