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Calling it how it is and saying what position actually best suits Smith? What a dick!Poor form by Khawaja, pretty much said if he was to pick the side Smith would be at 4, think you'd back your partner.
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Calling it how it is and saying what position actually best suits Smith? What a dick!Poor form by Khawaja, pretty much said if he was to pick the side Smith would be at 4, think you'd back your partner.
"You'll have to ask the men in charge but I'm not fussed either way," Smith told Fox Cricket.
"I'm comfortable batting wherever. We'll see what that looks like, I suppose, whether they want me to continue [opening] or go back to three or four.
"We'll wait and see. I'm pretty easy batting anywhere. We'll just see what stacks up and what the brain trust wants.
Also called him the best batter in the world in the same interview.Calling it how it is and saying what position actually best suits Smith? What a dick!
Ussie should be looking at his form ....it's been okay many starts not enough hundreds recently...for me this should be his last test series against the Indians.Poor form by Khawaja, pretty much said if he was to pick the side Smith would be at 4, think you'd back your partner.
Depends on how Ussie's form is in the Shield and against India, after such a long break.Ussie should be looking at his form ....it's been okay many starts not enough hundreds recently...for me this should be his last test series against the Indians.
In regards to Smith as I stated previously I would much prefer Smudge in the middle order and Head to open...just reckon having Head and Marsh...cancels themselves out a bit at 5 and 6 would rather a dasher head at the top. Instead of having two dashers batting next to each..other.....better balance for me
we're all set for the "Maddinson kid" as per (probably) NSW media... https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...l/news-story/3c66ea4c83e52b77dfd7b41b26596226
Head is a bit too loose for me batting any higher than 5 in red ball cricket. It is a sad reflection of where our development system is at that we are squeezing the absolute maximum out of elite players simply because batting wise we’ve got NOTHING in reserveUssie should be looking at his form ....it's been okay many starts not enough hundreds recently...for me this should be his last test series against the Indians.
In regards to Smith as I stated previously I would much prefer Smudge in the middle order and Head to open...just reckon having Head and Marsh...cancels themselves out a bit at 5 and 6 would rather a dasher head at the top. Instead of having two dashers batting next to each..other.....better balance for me
Yeah see your point but you can make an argument for both Duckett and Crawley ...being loose and they are going okay with bazballHead is a bit too loose for me batting any higher than 5 in red ball cricket. It is a sad reflection of where our development system is at that we are squeezing the absolute maximum out of elite players simply because batting wise we’ve got NOTHING in reserve
I’ve been on this type of theory for quite a long time - and we have very little quality coming throughYeah see your point but you can make an argument for both Duckett and Crawley ...being loose and they are going okay with bazball
I just think with the way the team is going...I can see a role for Head at the top and I think he has the technique to pull it off...and come subcontinent conditions Head has to open for me...he has shown he can do it as an opener over there and he just struggles in the middle order on spinning decks.....
But saying that seeing that we play the majority of games in Australia for the tests I can see the concern with Head as opener ...but I just think with the way cricket is going...faster scoring rates...and I believe 4 days tests are going to be introduced sooner rather than later....Head could do a role as a strike weapon up the top.
What does worry me is the lack of youngsters coming through ...we have an ageing test team atm....only Green Dog is under 30 .......Ussie is 37 Lyon 36 Smudge is 35 Starc 34 Hazelwood 33 Carey 33 Marsh 32 cummins head marnus 30...they might go okay against India this summer who also have Ageing team....but come next summer for the Ashes...we could have dads army v the pace of both Archer and Wood 140 plus.......big issue for me
I made a thread a months ago saying this and got slammed. Although I was probably a bit melodramatic with the title.What does worry me is the lack of youngsters coming through ...we have an ageing test team atm....only Green Dog is under 30 .......Ussie is 37 Lyon 36 Smudge is 35 Starc 34 Hazelwood 33 Carey 33 Marsh 32 cummins head marnus 30...they might go okay against India this summer who also have Ageing team....but come next summer for the Ashes...we could have dads army v the pace of both Archer and Wood 140 plus.......big issue for me
Why would this U/19 side be any different to the previous versions where the second coming of Christ has been foreseen but they all turn out to be biblical storiesI made a thread a months ago saying this and got slammed. Although I was probably a bit melodramatic with the title.
We desperately need the under 19 team that won the world cup last year, to produce 5-6 quality international players like 2010 winning team did. Because on the batting side especially, there's very few players coming through in their early-mid 20s.
I agree, it's just hope rather than any actual expectation.Why would this U/19 side be any different to the previous versions where the second coming of Christ has been foreseen but they all turn out to be biblical stories
The Pathways are all short form cricket - i have a lad in one at the moment who I am watching his technique which is not properly formed being debased before my eyes. So much of it now is premeditated, high risk and score at all costs.We really need to get past the u19 side. Marnus would never have had a look in. Neither would Warner.
Plenty of decent players aren't coming good until north of 20, but they are discarded because they are outside the pathways.
Deal with the root cause of the problem…hint - it’s not the pitchesShield pitches need to be flatter to develop our batsmen, look at the 90's / early 2000's we had multiple players in shield averaging 40+ or even 50+ because the pitches were good for batting which helped them develop, people will say that's not good for the bowlers but if the bowler is good enough they'll find a way.
Deal with the root cause of the problem…hint - it’s not the pitches
It's still definitely a factor. Hussey has mentioned it many times in commentary that a lot of the shield pitches now are minefields compared to the late 90's and 2000's and don't benefit anyone. Batsman get out to an almost unplayable ball before they are set most of the time, and the bowlers are rarely in positions that they have to work hard for wickets. Obviously not always the case, but the pitches for the most part are far more bowler friendly than they were back then.Deal with the root cause of the problem…hint - it’s not the pitches
It’s still not the main factorIt's still definitely a factor. Hussey has mentioned it many times in commentary that a lot of the shield pitches now are minefields compared to the late 90's and 2000's and don't benefit anyone. Batsman get out to an almost unplayable ball before they are set most of the time, and the bowlers are rarely in positions that they have to work hard for wickets. Obviously not always the case, but the pitches for the most part are far more bowler friendly than they were back then.
Explain to me how that proves your theory?disagree, average score in shield last few seasons is 220 lol
It’s all short form cricket - you’re dealing with kids at vastly different stages of development but from a a batting perspective, with winning being everything, the big kid who can slog to leg wil ALWAYS be selected over the kid who plays straight, regardless of long term who actually has a chance of actually making it.I haven't watched enough junior cricket to know this but I have seen a few kids, that seem to struggle to score, easily see off bowlers that have skittled their big swinging counterparts. Great little defences but just lacking a little confidence to try to put the bad balls away or lacking a little timing or strength on their full shots. Are these kids getting seen on their merits if they try out for districts/development teams or will they be overshadowed by the kids that are bolder and can strike the ball harder?