Steve Smith

[Bourky23]

Ahhh and with that little sly comment you've just proven to me that you are one of those sooky pricks who can't comprehend that someone is actually better than Australia at cricket.

 

[Spudregus_87]

A perfect example is Hussey. He was made to earn his place and when he came in he was in incredible form. He had had his technique challenged at Shield cricket, had played in an array of positions, eventually finding his groove.

Yeah, but why was he made to wait long enough for us to lose the 2005 Ashes, when he was smashing runs in ODIs/Shield games? Was obvious that he should've been given a spot in our middle order.

Same goes for Stuart Clark. He was the perfect like-for-like replacement when McGrath rolled his ankle, but instead the selectors decided to go with Kasprowicz, who had arguably been picked in that squad under your selection method.

All signs pointing to the fact that perhaps waiting for a bloke to have 4-5 years of 1000+ runs domestically isn't the way to go anymore. Better off playing guys who are in form (see; Khwaja, Copeland, Marsh, etc).

 

[Doodlesweaver]

has a long way to go. consistently plays ridiculousy far from his body. its amazing he's gotten to this level without that having been sorted out by someone along the way

When he is coming forward to drive as in the dismissal it actually looks like he's falling backwards at the same time so his head is moving away from the ball. Looks awful.

He hasn't played decent bowling very often that is what it looks like.

 

[Bradesmaen]

Ahhh and with that little sly comment you've just proven to me that you are one of those sooky pricks who can't comprehend that someone is actually better than Australia at cricket.

Huh? Because I think England is actually South Africa's number 2 team? Yes, I can see your logic now.

 

[Admiral Byng]

Smith is only in the side because they refuse to pick Hauritz as the spinner. If Hauritz was in the side they wouldn't need to be looking for spinning all-rounders.

 

[Radical Roo]

Smith was picked for Perth as a guy who bats and could bowl a bit if needed.
If he's at 7, you want someone who is an out and out all-rounder ie Greg Matthews or Simon O'Donnell.
If neither his batting or bowling is good enough - what is he doing in the team?
At least at 6 they could justify it with his batting.

For a decent no.7 don't you mean Andrew McDonald? He averages like 33 with bat and 20 something with ball, isn't that what you want from your all rounder?

Also i think Beer is a surplass. At least with Smith he has potential and a great deal of development to do. He already has shown his allround world class talents.

 

[Caesar]

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.

Whilst I think he needs to spend a bit more time at state level, I'm sure he will get more leeway than McDonald. For starters, he's a lot younger. Secondly, and more importantly, he's expected to be a batsman who bowls a bit of useful spin in a side with a spinning weakness.

McDonald when he was in the side was a bowling-focused allrounder. With Watson already providing an extra pace option his role was always a little superfluous, and therefore tenuous.

 

[Radical Roo]

ACB want johnson to be like a flintoff type impact player minus the injuries. However johnson's bowling is a bit too much of harmison like for my liking. But at least Johnson is very fit, so far he hasn't shown any Flintoff like scecptibility to injuries.

 

[Marstermind]

Smith is getting picked on his potential. His form in any format and level of the game isn't sufficient for him to be in the Test side. He isn't a good enough bat to be at 6, and he isn't a good enough bowler to be part of your frontline attack. But he looks like he might be one day so they might as well play him in the absence of someone else who stands out. As a result it's irrelevant where he bats because as of right now, he isn't good enough to fill any position. But so long as he is learning and developing he might as well stay in.

Whoever gave him the advice of focussing on his batting needs a big kick in the pants. So does Smith and anyone else encouraging him to do it. The next Australian who shows even the slightest bit of talent as a spin bowler almost guarantees himself two years of Test cricket. Why be that person and give it away?

 

[Caesar]

He's already one of the best first class batsmen in the country under 25, he doesn't need to be a spinner in order to cement a Test career. Anyway, being a spinner with talent hasn't provided Dan Cullen, Cullen Bailey, Beau Casson or Jason Krejza with any sort of job security.

He runs the risk of turning out like White if he neglects his strength to try and be something he's not. If you want a spinner who can bat a bit then you already have Hauritz and Steve O'Keefe ready-made.

 

[IanG]

He makes more sense at 7 than 6.

He's already one of the best first class batsmen in the country under 25,

Then we're in a lot of trouble cause at the moment he's not an acceptable batsman for the longer form of the game. His defensive technique is shocking and unless it improves it will preclude him from playing long innings

 

[eddiesmith]

Some of the posting in this thread has got me tearing my hair out.

I'd hate to play for Australia at the moment, it's as if people expected Hughes and Smith to come straight into the side and both make double tons every innings?

Be realistic for gods sake and give them a ****ing chance.

The best XI in Australia now isn't the best in the world anymore, deal with it.

Who did you want the selectors to replace North and Katich with? Hayden and Gilchrist? FFS people get a grip.

Smith and Hughes have hardly "failed" compared to everyone else this series/innings and need to stay in the side.

/rant

Cameron White has a better batting average yet the experts on Bigfooty say he was a complete failure when playing for Australia, yet no one is allowed to bag Smith who has played more matches and looked totally out of his depth?

 

[Caesar]

The guy's 21, for Christ's sake! Talk about hyperbole. I'm struggling to think of many batsman in the last 30 years not named Tendulkar, Ponting or Lara that were quality Test bats at that age. Even Duminy was a year or so older when he took us to pieces.

People seem to forget how rubbish that young prodigy Cook was when he came out here at 23. Fast forward a couple of years and he's one of the best bats in the world.

In a couple of years Smith will be a perfectly competent international batsman.

 

[eddiesmith]

Didnt realise Australia was in a position to carry 3-4 batsmen because they might be world class in 3-4 years, isnt that what the Shield is for?

Then in 3-4 years when they havent come on who do you call on? The next 20 year old who has just played his 1st season? Because those season first class batsmen are apparently now too old, and the cycle continues

There used to be a time that Australia picked their best side

 

[Marstermind]

He's already one of the best first class batsmen in the country under 25, he doesn't need to be a spinner in order to cement a Test career. Anyway, being a spinner with talent hasn't provided Dan Cullen, Cullen Bailey, Beau Casson or Jason Krejza with any sort of job security.

He runs the risk of turning out like White if he neglects his strength to try and be something he's not. If you want a spinner who can bat a bit then you already have Hauritz and Steve O'Keefe ready-made.

So why are we picking Smith? Why weren't Cullen, Bailey, Casson or Krejza persisted with?

Clue: rhymes with Mitmouse Melectors

 

[Marstermind]

The guy's 21, for Christ's sake! Talk about hyperbole. I'm struggling to think of many batsman in the last 30 years not named Tendulkar, Ponting or Lara that were quality Test bats at that age. Even Duminy was a year or so older when he took us to pieces.

People seem to forget how rubbish that young prodigy Cook was when he came out here at 23. Fast forward a couple of years and he's one of the best bats in the world.

In a couple of years Smith will be a perfectly competent international batsman.

Cook struggled here in 2006 but he did make a Test century in Perth. He showed more than Smith is now.

Everyone agrees that Smith SHOULD be a perfectly competent international batsman in a couple of years. ("perfectly competent?" W're not aiming too high there are we?) It's what should be done with him NOW that is in debate. Bat 6? 7? 8 and bowl? Let him work on his game in the Shield?

 

[Messenger]

He's already one of the best first class batsmen in the country under 25, he doesn't need to be a spinner in order to cement a Test career. Anyway, being a spinner with talent hasn't provided Dan Cullen, Cullen Bailey, Beau Casson or Jason Krejza with any sort of job security.

He runs the risk of turning out like White if he neglects his strength to try and be something he's not. If you want a spinner who can bat a bit then you already have Hauritz and Steve O'Keefe ready-made.

I'd sooner have either of Hauritz or O'Keefe and play an extra batsman. Today was Smith's highest score in a first innings of a Test Match.

I'm not suggesting throwing him on the scrap heap, but he clearly isn't coping with the bat.

 

[Caesar]

Didnt realise Australia was in a position to carry 3-4 batsmen because they might be world class in 3-4 years, isnt that what the Shield is for?

Used to be. Maybe if Victoria hadn't warehoused Michael Hill for the last three years then we'd have a young dynamic batsman who deserved Smith's spot.

Pretty sure most people agree Smith's been picked a season or two too early. Doesn't mean he's a spud like people here are claiming.

Personally whilst I'd prefer someone like Marsh in the team right now, I don't think there's such an enormous gulf between him and Smith that it's worth getting massively worked up about the omission. There are no guys in the Shield screaming out to be picked right now... when the next best option are journeymen well into their decline like David Hussey then I'm not too fussed if they take a punt on a young guy.

So why are we picking Smith? Why weren't Cullen, Bailey, Casson or Krejza persisted with?

Smith isn't being picked as a spinner, he's being picked as a batsman who can roll the arm over. Basically a replacement for North.

 

[Gazza_11]

Play him as the specialist spinner. If we're keeping both Hussey and Ponting in the team that has to happen, because we should not drop Khawaja...

 

[Tyberious Funk]

The guy's 21, for Christ's sake! Talk about hyperbole. I'm struggling to think of many batsman in the last 30 years not named Tendulkar, Ponting or Lara that were quality Test bats at that age. Even Duminy was a year or so older when he took us to pieces.

Fair enough. Which leads to the obvious question... why is he in the team? Why is he getting special treatment? If he is too young to be expected to be performing, why isn't he left to playing FC cricket so he can develop his game?

People seem to forget how rubbish that young prodigy Cook was when he came out here at 23. Fast forward a couple of years and he's one of the best bats in the world.

Bad example.

When Cook arrived in Australia, he already had FOUR Test centuries to his name, including a century on debut against India (in India) at the tender age of 22. He had a (relatively) poor series against Australia, who at that stage still boasted an attack of McGrath, Warne, Lee and Clark. And yet, he still managed to at least score a century in Perth.

Smith dreams he had the talent of Cook.

In a couple of years Smith will be a perfectly competent international batsman.

IMHO, you don't fast track a 21 year old in to the side with the expectation that they'll one day be "competent".

 

[Caesar]

Bad example.

When Cook arrived in Australia, he already had FOUR Test centuries to his name, including a century on debut against India (in India) at the tender age of 22. He had a (relatively) poor series against Australia, who at that stage still boasted an attack of McGrath, Warne, Lee and Clark. And yet, he still managed to at least score a century in Perth.

Smith dreams he had the talent of Cook.

Cook was 2 years older at that stage and a year older on debut, I wouldn't expect him to be at a comparable level of performance. I used it as an example of how quickly a batsman can mature at that age.

More applicable to someone at Khawaja's stage of development than Smith's, but it was merely a rebuttal to people saying Smith is a spud just because he's not performing at 21. Even the best batsmen in the world (like Cook) take time to mature.

IMHO, you don't fast track a 21 year old in to the side with the expectation that they'll one day be "competent".

Competent by the standards of BigFooty is pretty good.

The thing is, he's not really being 'fast tracked' in any meaningful sense. There aren't really that many other contenders in terms of middle order batsmen right now, particularly ones that can roll the arm a bit. Duss? Wouldn't get a debut at his age no matter how well he played. North? Tried and failed. Marsh and Ferguson? Good but not exactly daylight ahead of Smith. Hill? Not enough first class experience.

He's getting preferential treatment due to his age and his bowling being useful, and as I said I think it's too early, but it's not as if there's guys screaming out to picked ahead of him.

 

[IanG]

Personally whilst I'd prefer someone like Marsh in the team right now, I don't think there's such an enormous gulf between him and Smith that it's worth getting massively worked up about the omission.

I think there is, the thing its not reflected in their stats its in their technique. You need to be able to assess that, not just look at his figures. Like I said before Smith's defensive technique is horrible, very high backlift, playing away from his body head not getting in line with the ball. But he has a good eye. He can get away with just having a good eye in first class cricket, but he can't at test level. A lot of batsmen have had similar problems and not been able to make the transition.

IMHO the selectors are actually revealed to be incompetent by clearly not assessing his tecnhque before picking him as a No. 6.

 

[Gavin Excell]

He is neither a Test quality batsmen or Test quality bowler.

He shouldn't be in the side.

 

[The_Reaper]

Cameron White has a better batting average yet the experts on Bigfooty say he was a complete failure when playing for Australia, yet no one is allowed to bag Smith who has played more matches and looked totally out of his depth?

Over the past 3 seasons, White has scored less shield runs than Smith and from more innings than Smith.

White is hardly unlucky to not be selected.

 

[frankrizzo]

What happened to picking the best 6 batsmen in the country, the best wicket keeper the best 3 quicks and a spinner?

it's not a guarantee of success but i guarantee it will work a lot better than picking specialist number 7's who bat like number 8-9's.

Smith isn't the all round savior people want him to be, when that genuine all rounder comes along life will be great but they come along once every 50 years they can't be invented out of desperate need.