Australian Tour of India 2013

[CoverKing]

First test team might be:

Warner
Cowan
Hughes
Clarke
Smith
Henriques/Khawaja
Wade
Johnson/Pattinson
Siddle
Bird/Starc
Lyon


Fast bowlers depending on injuries

where's the vice captain?

Dont think he will be fit for the first test, another injury around the corner IMO.

Is he good enough to play just as a batsman?

was picked purely as a top 4 batsman apparently

[Lightning McQueen]

Steven Smith is the most promising Australian spinner since Shane Warne emerged - but he is more than that. He carries the extra advantage of being an outstanding batsman who could soon slot in to the top six for his country, whether he bowls or not. By the age of 21 he was in Australia's Test, one-day and Twenty20 teams, picked on promise and quickly showing the composure of a seasoned professional. There were words of caution about his early elevation, but there was no hiding the excitement about a player who gives the ball air, hits it hard, catches it at will and seems unbothered by pressure.

Yeah nah.

[Brodlach]

First test team might be:

Warner
Cowan
Hughes
Clarke
Smith
Henriques/Khawaja
Wade
Johnson/Pattinson
Siddle
Bird/Starc
Lyon


Fast bowlers depending on injuries

where's the vice captain?

Dont think he will be fit for the first test, another injury around the corner IMO.

Is he good enough to play just as a batsman?

was picked purely as a top 4 batsman apparently

Who would he replace in the top 4, maybe Cowan?

[westcoastpanther]

I look forward to watching Steve have another go. Nah, actually I feel effing sick and want to kill someone

[CoverKing]

No idea, just what the selectors said Brodlach.

Clarke to move back down to 5, Watson at 4, and then the all rounder at 6 or 7?

[Squids]

Smith averages 42 with 5 tons at 23. There are plenty of poorer choices than him.

[CoverKing]

Smith averages 42 with 5 tons at 23. There are plenty of poorer choices than him.

No doubt about being poorer choices. One of them is Ferguson

[whufc]

Smith averages 42 with 5 tons at 23. There are plenty of poorer choices than him.

X2 great post,

People forget his 5 tests have been against the Pakis on seaming English decks and then 3 tests against the worlds best attack at the time England. Not the easiest start to a test career for anyone, but he has hit two fifties.

Forget his bowling, forget his a New South Welshman, forget his blonde hair, forget his 'pretty boy style', forget his technique and actually look at what his achieved as a batsmen in first class cricket and its pretty easy to understand while he keeps getting selected!

[Squids]

Smith averages 42 with 5 tons at 23. There are plenty of poorer choices than him.

No doubt about being poorer choices. One of them is Ferguson

Agreed.

[westcoastpanther]

Smith averages 42 with 5 tons at 23. There are plenty of poorer choices than him.

No doubt about being poorer choices. One of them is Ferguson

Agreed.

It's only you Smith lovers who keep bringing up Ferg's name, no one else did.

He must have photo's or mixes a mean Pims

[daysofourlives]

The Indians must be shaking in their boots at the prospect of taking on that squad

Can anyone tell me why we need to take 17 players?

Because the selectors have NFI who is in our best 11, just like this summers ODI's

[westcoastpanther]

The Indians must be shaking in their boots at the prospect of taking on that squad

Can anyone tell me why we need to take 17 players?

Because the selectors have NFI who is in our best 11, just like this summers ODI's

Only way they could fit Steve in?

[whufc]

Smith averages 42 with 5 tons at 23. There are plenty of poorer choices than him.

No doubt about being poorer choices. One of them is Ferguson

Agreed.

It's only you Smith lovers who keep bringing up Ferg's name, no one else did.

He must have photo's or mixes a mean Pims

And you are still to offer a better alternative!

Who is the batsmen you would have ahead of Smith?

[Johno6]

Ferg.........................

[Swervyn]

Hodge

[heater31]

Hodge

Him and Smithy can bat in the middle order of the shit blokes XI....

[mal]

3rd Umpire : Mal
Subject : Steve Smith
The Defence : WHUFC
The Prosecutor : West Coast Panther

Steve Smith batting
Is a useful limited overs player and deserves any extended selection in these formats , its 50/50 whether he makes the grade as a frontline player
Is an average Test Cricket batsman to date , he deserves perhaps one more chance , but I dont think he has the technique or the temperament to be a regular test cricketer

Steve Smith bowling
Not good enough , except 20/20 cricket

Steve Smith Fielding
One of the very best outfielders to play for Australia

Summary Tour of India/England
He might deserve one more chance at Test level simply because the depth of batting is as poor as Ive seen in my time of watching Test Cricket
10 years ago, Smith probably would not make a Australia A team , such was the depth
He might even score runs in India, as the decks and attack may suit him
But the English quicks will be fighting for the ball to bowl at him , and likely to have his measure
For ODI and 20/20 he might be ok in any country

The verdict
WCP continues to bag him, I definitely see where heez coming from
WHUFC defends him, saying who else is better
Neither poster is right or wrong
What WCP needs to do when Smithy is selected for Australia is to post an alternative player selection
What will happen then is what WHUFC infers, who else is there ?

[whufc]

Hodge

Him and Smithy can bat in the middle order of the shit blokes XI....

Where does Clarke fit into that batting lineup

[whufc]

3rd Umpire : Mal
Subject : Steve Smith
The Defence : WHUFC
The Prosecutor : West Coast Panther

Steve Smith batting
Is a useful limited overs player and deserves any extended selection in these formats , its 50/50 whether he makes the grade as a frontline player
Is an average Test Cricket batsman to date , he deserves perhaps one more chance , but I dont think he has the technique or the temperament to be a regular test cricketer

Steve Smith bowling
Not good enough , except 20/20 cricket

Steve Smith Fielding
One of the very best outfielders to play for Australia

Summary Tour of India/England
He might deserve one more chance at Test level simply because the depth of batting is as poor as Ive seen in my time of watching Test Cricket
10 years ago, Smith probably would not make a Australia A team , such was the depth
He might even score runs in India, as the decks and attack may suit him
But the English quicks will be fighting for the ball to bowl at him , and likely to have his measure
For ODI and 20/20 he might be ok in any country

The verdict
WCP continues to bag him, I definitely see where heez coming from
WHUFC defends him, saying who else is better
Neither poster is right or wrong
What WCP needs to do when Smithy is selected for Australia is to post an alternative player selection
What will happen then is what WHUFC infers, who else is there ?

That's my point. I'm definatly not sold on Smith as a test batsmen but his first class record has definatly earnt him his recalls. Whether u like him or not its one of the best records in first class cricket at present, which probably says alot about where Aus cricket is at.

The only one who may have a better record could be Doolan but considering its such a young squad they may be wary of taking another debutant across, throw in Smiths brilliant fielding and that he does kind of bowl (I agree his bowling is rubbish but we have seen many a rubbish spin bowler become beasts in India) I can see why his there.

I also don't buy the technique argument, I'm not saying his going to be any good but we have seen some of the worlds best batsmen have technique flaws or do things against the text book ala Lara, Amla, Sehwag, Gilchrist, Inzanam Ul Haq even SA own D.Lehmann. I wanna see results not technique!

[The Sleeping Giant]

Being fat isn't a technical flaw. Do you think they all should bat like greg chappell? Who keeps bringing up technical flaws besides your self.

Like has been said, if Smith and Watson play, it's because of lack of talent in Australia, not because the 2 mentioned are any good.