Pakistan v Australia in England, June-July 2010

Really cant see how Smith can play as part of a 4-man attack, especially if Watson plays & bowls in the current form he is in.

Much prefer McKay or young George to play instead.
 
Simon Katich is a way better leg spin bowler than Smith :ninja

Actually I am serious, Katich averages 36 at FC while Smith averages 48. Apart from their stats, it is obvious to the naked eye that Smith is missing many techniques which a leg spinner must have. In simple terms, he is just a pie chucker. The only reason why he got selected is because he was an exciting prospect (and apparently 1 game makes a season), well the experiment was worth it but it is over now and he should just go back where he belongs, at club level.

This is quite apparent when you watch the recent MCG Test match against Pakistan. Katich came in late in the evening and completely bamboozled the batsmen with almost every delivery he bowled. There were ripping leggies of a length, nice drift and flight, and the occasional googly which the batsmen missed by a whole bat length. He had the ball on a string, balls which looked like full tosses landed on a length, and the batsmen were forced to go into panic mode, because they knew they couldn't survive against that type of bowling.

But watching Smith all these games is giving me a really bad headache. Not only does he have one of the most retarded run ups I have ever seen, almost every delivery he bowls looks exactly the same. Can I ask where are the variations?

It looks like Warney didn't teach him anything :facepalm

/rant
 
I think the problem is that Smith is being played as a specialist bowler, when he's more like a part-timer or a batting allrounder at best. I'd rather see O'Keefe played as Australia's back up specialist spinner to be honest unless Smith is played in the top 6 because O'Keefe looks like the type of bowler that won't leak too many runs from the end he is bowling from (much like Hauritz does), which complements our pace attack well.
 
Last edited:
I see Chris Rogers almost scored a century against Australia: Tour Match: Derbyshire v Australians at Derby, Jul 8-9, 2010 | Cricket Scorecard | Cricinfo.com

If Watson still struggles with the bat I would say Rogers could replace him.

Phil Hughes is ahead of Rogers - but not on this tour cause of injury. They'd probably send Usman in to open if there is a problem with either opener. Otherwise Paine or Hussey would go up I'd say. Rogers has a good record, but he didn't fit into the dressing room well and even in the interview he made after yesterday he admitted that he'd had this game v Aus marked on his calender for a while. Sounds a bit of tension there, reading between the lines.

Simon Katich is a way better leg spin bowler than Smith :ninja

Actually I am serious, Katich averages 36 at FC while Smith averages 48. Apart from their stats, it is obvious to the naked eye that Smith is missing many techniques which a leg spinner must have. In simple terms, he is just a pie chucker.

Hmm I'll stop you there - Katich bowls a lot more pies than Smith. Smith may look lie a pie chucker, but he bowls less of them. Post Warne, the Aussie spinner must be able to bowl maidens. Krejza couldn't and Hauritz can. Katich can't and Smith is a bit more likely. If I want an instant wicket, I'd give the ball to the Kat, but otherwise Smith is going to be holding fairly defensively at one end while the pace bowlers rest and attack from the other.
 
No doubt Katich is underbowled, but he himself has said he has been injured slightly over the past 2 years and cant bowl long spells so hasopted to not bowl at all, mostly at his request so he has said. He does bowl a lot of pies, but some cracking deliveries occasionally. Cannot be regarded as a main spinner and never will be.

Cant believe there is talk here of dropping Watson, why on earth would you even think of dropping someone who has done great work in establishing himself at the top of the order over the past 12 months, and been so amazingly consistent. A few one day failures dont mean anything. :facepalm:facepalm:facepalm
 
If I want an instant wicket, I'd give the ball to the Kat, but otherwise Smith is going to be holding fairly defensively at one end while the pace bowlers rest and attack from the other.

Smith generally isn't an economical bowler though. As of this post, his economy rate in first class cricket is 4.01.

I hope all this justifies Hauritz' place in Australia's Test team and shows the good job he has done as Australia's specialist spinner.
 
Hmm I'll stop you there - Katich bowls a lot more pies than Smith. Smith may look lie a pie chucker, but he bowls less of them. Post Warne, the Aussie spinner must be able to bowl maidens. Krejza couldn't and Hauritz can. Katich can't and Smith is a bit more likely. If I want an instant wicket, I'd give the ball to the Kat, but otherwise Smith is going to be holding fairly defensively at one end while the pace bowlers rest and attack from the other.

I agree with you there, but if we actually wanted a defensive spinner, why not stick with Hauritz?

I mean playing Pakistan probably wont cost us much as their batsmen would probably throw away their wickets against Smith anyway, but against a team like SA or India, an economical spinner is not going to do anything.
 
I agree with you there, but if we actually wanted a defensive spinner, why not stick with Hauritz?

I mean playing Pakistan probably wont cost us much as their batsmen would probably throw away their wickets against Smith anyway, but against a team like SA or India, an economical spinner is not going to do anything.

I think sifter132 was referring to Australia's spin options whilst Hauritz is injured.
 
Watson is not even in that bad a form, he got 2 50s and a 40 against England in the ODI series and I am sure he will lift his game in the test series.
 
Simon Katich is a way better leg spin bowler than Smith :ninja

Actually I am serious, Katich averages 36 at FC while Smith averages 48. Apart from their stats, it is obvious to the naked eye that Smith is missing many techniques which a leg spinner must have. In simple terms, he is just a pie chucker. The only reason why he got selected is because he was an exciting prospect (and apparently 1 game makes a season), well the experiment was worth it but it is over now and he should just go back where he belongs, at club level.

This is quite apparent when you watch the recent MCG Test match against Pakistan. Katich came in late in the evening and completely bamboozled the batsmen with almost every delivery he bowled. There were ripping leggies of a length, nice drift and flight, and the occasional googly which the batsmen missed by a whole bat length. He had the ball on a string, balls which looked like full tosses landed on a length, and the batsmen were forced to go into panic mode, because they knew they couldn't survive against that type of bowling.

But watching Smith all these games is giving me a really bad headache. Not only does he have one of the most retarded run ups I have ever seen, almost every delivery he bowls looks exactly the same. Can I ask where are the variations?

It looks like Warney didn't teach him anything :facepalm

/rant
Yes, Warne came along and then he waved his wand and like that, Smith was suddenly a better bowler than Warne himself was at the same age.
 
Ah yes because when Shane Warne debuted after 7 FC games he was such an established leggie. It's called vision Tum, and you would do well to get some.
 
Tbh Boyce looks like more of the leggie that is expected in the wake of Warne, and the only variation he really used in the Shield final was the slider. It's always dangerous to be enslaved by variations, but for these 20 year olds, it's doubly important that they focus on their stock ball. You have to have substance for the variations to be their most effective.
 
It's unfortunate for Boyce, already taken a 6fer yet I feel he will be regarded as the Stuart MacGill of this generation.
 
Not sure about Boyce, his style isnt very attacking, unlike MacGill where you know he would take wickets, sometimes very expensive though. The best thing for all the current first class spinners is there is no Warne in the way- you get some form going and youre in the Aussie team, that is a huge positive in this era, much like it was pre-Warne when had a spin revolving door ever since Benaud retired. Even in the 2 years before Warne we had Matthews, May, Sleep, Hohns, Taylor, all given a go at being the #1 spinner, so its never an easy thing. Warne was a complete fluke, as is common knowledge, but we didnt fare that badly before him and will do ok now.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Top