Steve Smith Australian Test Captain

[whufc]

Great reward for persistence and never say die attitude

Much like Phil Hughes he brings a backyard technique to the game which is refreshing to see

Once again Steve Smith is following in the great dons footsteps

It is a shame WCP and TSG rarely if ever post in the cricket threads

[mal]

Fully deserved
Remarkable improvement
I never anticipated East Coast Blonde Don Smith would be a regular Test cricketer

However, I have a concern
The timing

EC Smith has just scored 162 + 52 not out in his last test match and right now is at his peak
Is it the right time to burden him with the captaincy ?

Hopefully it does not affect his sensational form of recent times

[Bombers4EVA]

Fully deserved
Remarkable improvement
I never anticipated East Coast Blonde Don Smith would be a regular Test cricketer

However, I have a concern
The timing

EC Smith has just scored 162 + 52 not out in his last test match and right now is at his peak
Is it the right time to burden him with the captaincy ?

Hopefully it does not affect his sensational form of recent times

I totally agree with ya Mal.

Wouldn't it be a better option to leave the captaincy to Haddin for the remainder of the test series. And give Smith the vice captaincy and let Clarke and Haddin teach Smith all the lessons he is going to need to be a captain that going to lead us for a long time?

I believe if we rush him into the captaincy too early, and especially atm with how good his form is. Could it unsettle him and put him under too much stress of making decisions and also worrying about his batting performance?

[Booney]

Fully deserved
Remarkable improvement
I never anticipated East Coast Blonde Don Smith would be a regular Test cricketer

However, I have a concern
The timing

EC Smith has just scored 162 + 52 not out in his last test match and right now is at his peak
Is it the right time to burden him with the captaincy ?

Hopefully it does not affect his sensational form of recent times

I totally agree with ya Mal.

Wouldn't it be a better option to leave the captaincy to Haddin for the remainder of the test series. And give Smith the vice captaincy and let Clarke and Haddin teach Smith all the lessons he is going to need to be a captain that going to lead us for a long time?

I believe if we rush him into the captaincy too early, and especially atm with how good his form is. Could it unsettle him and put him under too much stress of making decisions and also worrying about his batting performance?

IMO, once at this level you don't get taught how to be a captain.

Either you are and can or you aren't and can't. There's no "he's ready now" IMO, Smith, Clarke, Ponting etc etc would have all captained teams throughout their teenage years and it wasn't because someone took them under their wing and showed them, it's simply because they can and did become the stand out choice to lead the side.

[Bombers4EVA]

Fully deserved
Remarkable improvement
I never anticipated East Coast Blonde Don Smith would be a regular Test cricketer

However, I have a concern
The timing

EC Smith has just scored 162 + 52 not out in his last test match and right now is at his peak
Is it the right time to burden him with the captaincy ?

Hopefully it does not affect his sensational form of recent times

I totally agree with ya Mal.

Wouldn't it be a better option to leave the captaincy to Haddin for the remainder of the test series. And give Smith the vice captaincy and let Clarke and Haddin teach Smith all the lessons he is going to need to be a captain that going to lead us for a long time?

I believe if we rush him into the captaincy too early, and especially atm with how good his form is. Could it unsettle him and put him under too much stress of making decisions and also worrying about his batting performance?

IMO, once at this level you don't get taught how to be a captain.

Either you are and can or you aren't and can't. There's no "he's ready now" IMO, Smith, Clarke, Ponting etc etc would have all captained teams throughout their teenage years and it wasn't because someone took them under their wing and showed them, it's simply because they can and did become the stand out choice to lead the side.

Fair enough.

[whufc]

Smith has captained T20 and one day sides before which arguably could require more tactical nous and be more mentally draining.

Hopefully it doesn't affect his batting which imho and as others have said is the biggest risk

Who knows maybe the confidence gained from knowing he is a very to be selected and that he will get an extended run in the side will improve his batting (it could do the opposite)

Unfortunatlythere is no exact science with these things

[Footy Smart]

Smith has captained T20 and one day sides before which arguably could require more tactical nous and be more mentally draining.

Hopefully it doesn't affect his batting which imho and as others have said is the biggest risk

Who knows maybe the confidence gained from knowing he is a very to be selected and that he will get an extended run in the side will improve his batting (it could do the opposite)

Unfortunatlythere is no exact science with these things

Yep in Test match cricket now and the input of coaching staff around the team, the captain would make very little decisions un aided. The big change will be the offficial media responsabilities etc Smith must now do.

I think he will be extremely protected and wont be thrown to the wolves thats for sure

[Gozu]

A bit interesting that yesterday Clarke came out and called for Haddin to be his replacement as captain next day Steve Smith is given the job.

[FlyingHigh]

Fully deserved
Remarkable improvement
I never anticipated East Coast Blonde Don Smith would be a regular Test cricketer

However, I have a concern
The timing

EC Smith has just scored 162 + 52 not out in his last test match and right now is at his peak
Is it the right time to burden him with the captaincy ?

Hopefully it does not affect his sensational form of recent times

I totally agree with ya Mal.

Wouldn't it be a better option to leave the captaincy to Haddin for the remainder of the test series. And give Smith the vice captaincy and let Clarke and Haddin teach Smith all the lessons he is going to need to be a captain that going to lead us for a long time?

I believe if we rush him into the captaincy too early, and especially atm with how good his form is. Could it unsettle him and put him under too much stress of making decisions and also worrying about his batting performance?

This time last year he hadn't consolidated his place in the team, showing enough promise in the 2 Ashes series to persist with, but hadn't really nailed his spot. Obviously he has now and is comfortable with his spot, but ideally I reckon it is a year too early for him.

[bennymacca]

wonder whether he will move up to number 3 any time soon?

[The Dark Knight]

wonder whether he will move up to number 3 any time soon?

Will bat at least number 4 in the next test I reckon.

[bennymacca]

wonder whether he will move up to number 3 any time soon?

Will bat at least number 4 in the next test I reckon.

yeah or 4. thinking about it, 4 is probably the best spot for him

[The Dark Knight]

wonder whether he will move up to number 3 any time soon?

Will bat at least number 4 in the next test I reckon.

yeah or 4. thinking about it, 4 is probably the best spot for him

Agree with 4 being the best spot for him, IMO he is a natural number 4, and not number 3.

[MatteeG]

I came here just to see WCP's take on this development.

[Feenix]

I think Steve Smith being appointed as captain is a good thing, I don’t think the pressure will get to him. He has already said he might bring himself up the order, I reckon he’ll do well at 4.

I feel if David Warner hadn’t been such a loose cannon at the start of this career he might have been a chance too.

[bennymacca]

I think Steve Smith being appointed as captain is a good thing, I don’t think the pressure will get to him. He has already said he might bring himself up the order, I reckon he’ll do well at 4.

I feel if David Warner hadn’t been such a loose cannon at the start of this career he might have been a chance too.

With respect to Davey, I think he probably averages more than his IQ, not sure he would be a great captain (has the potential to be Australia's greatest ever opener though imo)

[Failed Creation]

I think Steve Smith being appointed as captain is a good thing, I don’t think the pressure will get to him. He has already said he might bring himself up the order, I reckon he’ll do well at 4.

I feel if David Warner hadn’t been such a loose cannon at the start of this career he might have been a chance too.

That never stopped Ponting getting the job...

[westcoastpanther]

I came here just to see WCP's take on this development.

Got no problem with this at all. WHUFC knows what my original beef was, and he even agreed with it the other day, yet he still likes to make himself look like the cricket guru.

[Footy Smart]

Great reward for persistence and never say die attitude

Much like Phil Hughes he brings a backyard technique to the game which is refreshing to see

Once again Steve Smith is following in the great dons footsteps

It is a shame WCP and TSG rarely if ever post in the cricket threads

WHUFC you mentioned backyard techniques, a fascinating read is a book called First Tests: Great Australian Cricketers and the Backyards That Made Them.

Quick overview of the book: Australia has dominated test cricket over the last 130 years. But it's not the formal cricket academies or high-end sports coaching that are responsible for the Australian cricket team's winning ways. The backyard has been the real academy of Australian cricket. Don Bradman's unique grip, stance and backlift all evolved in response to the pace at which the golf ball rebounded off the tank stand in his backyard games. Greg Chappell's unique flick off the hip shot came about because the leg side of his backyard wicket offered the best scoring opportunities. Alan Davidson bowled accurately because he had to: if he missed the stumps on his home-made pitch, he had to chase the ball down the hill into the scrub. Doug Walters played spin with ease because his ant-bed backyard pitch spun like a top. Neil Harvey's immaculate footwork came from playing balls darting off cobblestones in his back lane.

Nice, easy read for those who are interested

[bennymacca]

That does sound like a really good book