Australia v India - post 2nd Test discussion, we're all doomed? Maybe not.

[western royboy]

Feels like we toured South Africa a lot in the Graeme Smith era, have things gotten more unstable over there since then?

Political instability increases the security concerns - which makes SA, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan & Pakistan all marginal places to tour, combine that with the financial issues and thats why we dont play there as often as we used to.

 

[swingdog]

Yep, it's the finances and it always being difficult because it clashes with our season and now the start of IPL.

Doubt stability has much to do with it - tourism is still going fine to SA.

 

[MC Bad Genius]

It's about 92000 for cricket

It'd be another 5,000 less at each end behind the bowler's arm if Marnus and Smudge had their way.

 

[Foxx]

Looks like Steve Smith will have to slow his run rate up to make runs now.

He has always moved accross his stumps and been in a good position to play the balls outside off stump. Or pick the straight ball off the pads.

Since he's now missing the balls on his pads, he's changed his technique to not step across to off stump line, and now nicking behind.

He's going to have to leave a lot more ball outside off if he's going to not get across like he was.

 

[western royboy]

Looks like Steve Smith will have to slow his run rate up to make runs now.

He has always moved accross his stumps and been in a good position to play the balls outside off stump. Or pick the straight ball off the pads.

Since he's now missing the balls on his pads, he's changed his technique to not step across to off stump line, and now nicking behind.

He's going to have to leave a lot more ball outside off if he's going to not get across like he was.

Anyone with an unconventional technique who relies on their eye and hitting a lot of balls like Smith will always look horrid when out of form. Is is temporary or are his eyes going or gone.

 

[Foxx]

Anyone with an unconventional technique who relies on their eye and hitting a lot of balls like Smith will always look horrid when out of form. Is is temporary or are his eyes going or gone.

It's hard to say which. It's shouldn't be his eyes at his age. Perhaps reflex has gone a little.

But either way it was always a matter of time until he started missing the straight ones on the pads.
He's in a bad predicament, because now that he's not moving accross and getting out nicking.

 

[Around the Wicket]

Good platform for Smith to go big.