Steve Smith

[Ill Chicken]

I remember when Cameron White first came into the Australian set up. he was not performing but continued to be selected in the ODI format as a number 7 batsmen who never bowled. I think he played 50 odd games before he even looked comfortable. Steven Smith has talent, you may not see it but the best judges do so he will be persisted with. I don't think he belongs in the test team at the moment though.

I find it strange that they're willing to continue with guys like Smith & White, when there is a player of Warner's quality who puts a team in a serious position to win, takes risks and backs himself and yet doesn't get a 30 game run.

It took Symonds 30 odd matches, paid dividends.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I find it strange that they're willing to continue with guys like Smith & White, when there is a player of Warner's quality who puts a team in a serious position to win, takes risks and backs himself and yet doesn't get a 30 game run.

It took Symonds 30 odd matches, paid dividends.

you have a very good point, I think the blonde hair and the leg spin may have something to do with it.

 

[The Speaker]

I find it strange that they're willing to continue with guys like Smith & White, when there is a player of Warner's quality who puts a team in a serious position to win, takes risks and backs himself and yet doesn't get a 30 game run.

It took Symonds 30 odd matches, paid dividends.

Has Smith been given a 30 game run?

 

[Ill Chicken]

Has Smith been given a 30 game run?

What do you think is happening at the moment?

 

[The Speaker]

What do you think is happening at the moment?

Past tense. He hasn't completed a thirty or so game run.

And what does Warner offer? He averages 28 in List A cricket. Why should he, of all people, be given a long run?

 

[mattymac]

our squad isn't good enough any more to warrant carrying the odd bloke on potential

need to be playing form players atm

 

[Ill Chicken]

Past tense. He hasn't completed a thirty or so game run.

And what does Warner offer? He averages 28 in List A cricket. Why should he, of all people, be given a long run?

Because he offers more to the side than Haddin, White, Smith, Clarke, Ponting, Hussey and just about everyone else in the side.

When he first came onto the scene, the WC was two years away, he could have played close to 50 games, opening up and giving the side a match winner. He is good enough to have settled in by now and his explosiveness is what our ODI team needs.

Selectors copped out, went with safe picks that aren't going to win you the big games and aren't going to make a side quake when you play them. What do teams think when they play Australia? Most of the team struggles to score at a run a ball, they'd be happy with picking up Watson and Ponting early and wouldn't give two craps about Haddin, Clarke or White because they take forever to get started and by the time they do, the pressure to score usually brings their wicket.

There is no innovation in the side. Hastings is the closest they've come to picking someone out of the box and the selectors have copped out on that so far.

 

[The Speaker]

So you think that Warner would ignore the game plan that the team has clearly developed for this World Cup (avoiding losing wickets early at the cost of slow scoring)? Haddin isn't normally a slow batsman - we've seen that for years. Yet he is sticking to the plan.

Warner offers more than White and Ponting potentially. You are over-rating his current abilities. He's still improving, but I don't think he was truly in a position to take on the opening spot yet.

 

[Ill Chicken]

So you think that Warner would ignore the game plan that the team has clearly developed for this World Cup (avoiding losing wickets early at the cost of slow scoring)? Haddin isn't normally a slow batsman - we've seen that for years. Yet he is sticking to the plan.

Warner offers more than White and Ponting potentially. You are over-rating his current abilities. He's still improving, but I don't think he was truly in a position to take on the opening spot yet.

The current team game plan is a reflection of the form of the team. It appears as though no one in the team has a licence to play an aggressive game. Yes it is the fault of the selectors and the coaching staff and the team game plan, but then players at hand also need to take responsibility and say that is not how we're going to win a WC. The load isn't shared equally between bat and ball.

I'm talking about Warner's original potentially, he has slightly gone backwards since then but has turned a corner again by making runs in Shield cricket.

White is truly an average player, his ability to produce a ODI innings of quality is greatly limited. Smith is exactly the same, though he'll probably play another 30 games of mediocrity before questions are really raised about his place in the side.

 

[Simple Jack]

Mark Allen on SEN just said that Crash Craddok has reported Steve Smith is on 1.2 million dollars a year from Cricket Australia.

And we wonder why we can't win a test?

Looks like we're going to take over Englands recent role as the basket case whilst they take ours as the powerhouse.

Just some test stats for Steve 'moneybags' Smith.

5 Tests
Batting average - 28.77 with 2 half centuries.
Bowling average - 73.33 with best figures of 3/51
3 total wickets in 5 tests.

And for his main role in the team as a fielder - 3 catches.

Wow.

 

[whats_at_stake]

Depends on what $1.2 million means. If all 25 contracted players are $1m+ then it is really not an issue.

 

[Cousin Jed]

They aren't.

Bit like the Karmichael Hunt contract

 

[Simple Jack]

Depends on what $1.2 million means. If all 25 contracted players are $1m+ then it is really not an issue.

To put it in context, I remember reading that Nathan Lyon who is in the test squad for the tour against Sri Lanka as our spinner is on $70k p.a.

 

[whats_at_stake]

To put it in context, I remember reading that Nathan Lyon who is in the test squad for the tour against Sri Lanka as our spinner is on $70k p.a.

Wow. Is Lyon a contracted player though? Does someone still have those rankings from 1-25 that were leaked/released regarding the players who were contracted?

 

[damochandler]

he is getting paid that much to be the royal jester. nothing more nothing less. he certainly is getting paid that much to be a good cricketer

but i blame the selectors and cricket australia for this. he wasn't ready and they just decided to throw him in the team because warnie thought he was looking good in the nets.

 

[Kram]

Lyon is not on a contract.

 

[Simple Jack]

he isd getting paid that much to be the royal jester. nothing more nothing less. he certainly is getting paid that much to be a good cricketer

but i blame the selectors and cricket australia for this. he wasn't ready and they just decided to throw him in the team because warnie thought he was looking good in the nets.

Absolutely, I have no problem whatsoever with what Steve Smith is doing. If CA came to me and said, play for Australia and we'll give you 1.2 million a year I'd certainly take the offer, even though I'd be more useless than Smith.

It is 100% Cricket Australias fault we are so royally ****ed.

And to the guy above, no Lyon isn't CA contracted, I was just using it as a comparison because he is acting as our test spinner which is a role Steve Smith is paid for.

 

[Kim Hagdorn]

Oh dan warna is going to love this.

 

[dr nick]

Absolutely, I have no problem whatsoever with what Steve Smith is doing. If CA came to me and said, play for Australia and we'll give you 1.2 million a year I'd certainly take the offer, even though I'd be more useless than Smith.

It is 100% Cricket Australias fault we are so royally ****ed.

And to the guy above, no Lyon isn't CA contracted, I was just using it as a comparison because he is acting as our test spinner which is a role Steve Smith is paid for.

Agree. Can't blame Smith, but it would be good to know what a standard contract is worth these days rather than spouting what Lyon gets in match fees.

And when is this inquiry/review into CA and the selectors etc happening? I thought it was in August sometime. I definitely think if you are marketable, you have more chance of being selected. This policy arose during the wonder years when we could carry 2-3 players.

 

[Wallaby]

Absolutely, I have no problem whatsoever with what Steve Smith is doing. If CA came to me and said, play for Australia and we'll give you 1.2 million a year I'd certainly take the offer, even though I'd be more useless than Smith.

Mate, having watched Smith, I'm willing to risk it.

 

[mattymac]

And when is this inquiry/review into CA and the selectors etc happening? I thought it was in August sometime. I definitely think if you are marketable, you have more chance of being selected. This policy arose during the wonder years when we could carry 2-3 players.

this

btw the long awaited review comes out tomorrow i think!!!!!!!! (or today even seeing its just past midnight). they wanted more time though, at least thats what i read a couple days ago, but it was slated for thursday-friday this week at a 2 day meeting

pack your toothbrush andrew haha

 

[Ill Chicken]

To put it in context, I remember reading that Nathan Lyon who is in the test squad for the tour against Sri Lanka as our spinner is on $70k p.a.

No, that was Copeland who is on his base 75k NSW contract. Lyon is on more because he is state and BBL contracted, so he'd likely be on 120k plus match payments. Along with that Lyon is a first year state player, while I'm not agreeing that Steve Smith should be on the amount that he is, he isn't a fringe first class player, so he should definitely be on more than the two mentioned.

 

[Bucking Beads]

CA really really need to fix up the contract system IMO. That really is pissing into the wind if Smith is making that kind of money.

 

[Tex_21]

In fairness to Smith, part of that payment is surely to keep him quiet about living in Clarke's dungeon.

 

[Bucking Beads]

In fairness to Smith, part of that payment is surely to keep him quiet about living in Clarke's dungeon.

Makes sense since Clarke won't give him a bowl and has come out and said he needs to improve.. Herp derp derp