Sri Lankan Tour of Australia, October-November 2010/11

[TumTum]

It's not like I'm randomly calling him for a Test spot based on this, I've been called for him to replace North since the start of the year. About time I got that wish!

He certainly got the FC results but cmon lets get serious, with his technique?

He could have played a Symonds role had we got a more solid top/middle order but we don't so we have to look at someone solid and Khawaja is the best option.

TumTum added 2 Minutes and 11 Seconds later...

Haha. I was just about to write how Australia would be aiming for about 135-140 if they continued but scratch that. Maybe looking at around 125 now.

 

[Iridium]

I meant to say 133 . I'll let others make predictions next time....

 

[angryangy]

I'm so shitting myself over the prospect of facing Australia in a months time...

Apart from the shite start Smith and Haddin look in absolutely stunning touch here. Haddin back and fit isn't what I was hoping in the run up to the Ashes. Kiss of death they're both out before I've even finished typing.

That's the funny thing, you watch a T20 and see maybe 4 or 5 guys who will play a Test in a month. It's never settled whether a bad Test side will wallop you in limited overs or vice versa, solely because of the huge player turnover. With all these different teams and players rested these days, you really need a Venn diagram to describe the country you refer to.

 

[aussie1st]

He certainly got the FC results but cmon lets get serious, with his technique?

Bit ironic coming seeing how you are calling for Hughes who also has a terrible technique.

 

[TumTum]

Bit ironic coming seeing how you are calling for Hughes who also has a terrible technique.

I'm not calling for Hughes at 6... Anyway his technique might be un-orthodox but so what? There have been many great players with un-orthodox techniques. Smith on the other hand is just a slogger, don't think you can say any more about it. Plus his bowling is just terrible. Bowls almost always flat, no control, and haven't seen him ever use a variation (maybe because it is so bad that it's unnoticeable). It's a joke calling him to play for the Test team, even as an all-rounder (unless there is a position for a specialist outfielder )

Anyways, batting didn't fire but oh well they will on another day. The bowling attack was really lackluster though. In fact the only slower balls we saw in the whole innings were by McKay when SL needed like 20 to win. Nannes was erratic. Hastings? Fit only to bowl at club level. It was expected what we would get from Siddle, he's too predictable and not suited for bowling in T20. Smith? Well I feel bad for Dilshan for gifting his wicket to him.

Match also shows Clarke is not as imaginative and active captain many users here seem to believe. Only used the 1 spinner in the match where he had guys like Dussey and White. Also he just kept the field out when SL only needed a runrate of 6 to win. I mean wtf Clarke just hand the game over in a platter why don't you?

 

[angryangy]

Hastings? Fit only to bowl at club level.

Well that's just an slur on the Sheffield Shield.

 

[TumTum]

Oops meant domestic cricket, don't know why I said club level (maybe because I was thinking of Smith ).

 

[Cricketman]

The Australians just can't seem to buy a win these days!

 

[Gurjot95]

Australia now have lost all their last 5 international matches and won only 1 in their last 8 matches (all formats). They are yet to taste win since last 2 and half months in any format. Hope they change their luck with Ashes win.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

randiv must be one of the best under the radar players in the world. never really gets spoken about that much but he's looking good to take over murali's roll in the team.

 

[angryangy]

Got spoken about lots when he did that no ball thing

 

[aussie1st]

I'm not calling for Hughes at 6... Anyway his technique might be un-orthodox but so what? There have been many great players with un-orthodox techniques. Smith on the other hand is just a slogger, don't think you can say any more about it. Plus his bowling is just terrible. Bowls almost always flat, no control, and haven't seen him ever use a variation (maybe because it is so bad that it's unnoticeable). It's a joke calling him to play for the Test team, even as an all-rounder (unless there is a position for a specialist outfielder )

Wish we had more sloggers then, 4 FC 100s at an average of just under 80 last season in the best domestic competition in the world, give me a few more of them please.

Not the start we needed to our summer but well played SL, they bowled to their plan and got the wickets. Always was going to be a tough ask for the bowlers to defend that total on that pitch.

 

[sifter132]

randiv must be one of the best under the radar players in the world. never really gets spoken about that much but he's looking good to take over murali's roll in the team.

Agree with this mate. Randiv looks excellent. As usual the Nine boys barely mentioned the Sri Lankans. Thank goodness Tom Moody was there to provide a little bit of balance.

OMFG what a display Smith is putting on. We are in trouble and he still has the confidence to play their amazing shots. Gone now but what an innings that was, done enough to convince me hes ready to take over North or Hussey in the Test side.

Well I was not as impressed as you. First ball showed me all I need. Malinga had him jumping, wafting away from his body and edging, while not being close to covering off stump. Not good signs, in fact it was ugly. How many 140+ bowlers has Smith played against? He made a century against QLD and Ryan Harris last season, anything apart from that?

And then once he got 'in', Smith's other major scoring shots were a ramp shot, reverse sweep and a slogged 6 that barely carried over mid wicket and wasn't far away from the fielder. Those are not 'sustainable' Test cricket shots, as Julia Gillard might say... Sure, he's got that X-factor about his batting, but I don't want him in my top 6 at this stage.

 

[aussie1st]

Well I was not as impressed as you. First ball showed me all I need. Malinga had him jumping, wafting away from his body and edging, while not being close to covering off stump. Not good signs, in fact it was ugly. How many 140+ bowlers has Smith played against? He made a century against QLD and Ryan Harris last season, anything apart from that?

He scored 70 against Pakistan's bowling attack of Amir, Asif and Gul two of whom bowl above 140kmh. In that same innings surprise surprise both North and Hussey failed. So I know who I'd have of those 3. That was probably the first time hes played against Malinga and he certainly isn't the first to struggle against him or the last.

 

[sifter132]

Yeah that's fair, and even if he is having the odd issue with pace, Smith's got a LONG way to go in his career yet. It's just the way he played that first ball from Malinga sent a shiver up my spine. Maybe he's just never faced the guy before and he got a bit jumpy.