The utility player is something the Australian ODI squad has had for years. They are "jack of all trades, master of none."
At the moment that utility player is Steven Smith. He's the sort of player that might not look like he's doing very much, but like the channel 9 commentary team harp on about, they always do something good each match.
For those that argue he isn't this "utility" player that I've seemingly just made up, ask yourself what he's in the side for.
Is he there as a bowler? No. Is he there as a batsman? No. Is he there as a pure all rounder? No (That spot is already filled by Watson and D.Hussey anyway, and both do it much better than he does). And surely he isn't picked just for his fielding, or else there's quite a few better choices.
He's there for those occasions when he picks up three wickets, scores 10 runs of 3 balls, takes that catch or makes that run out. He's the perfect sort of batsman to have finishing with M.Hussey or the like in the last few overs.
I'm a very much a fan of this sort of player. You could have Ferguson in the side and I'm sure he'd score more runs, but he bats up the order and what happens if you need an extra bowler? You could also pick Hastings and he'd bowl better, but what happens if you collapse and need a batsman down the order, or somebody to simply pick off the boundaries?
Having talked Smith up, however, I'm not sure he is the right one.
After James Hopes' brilliant season in all three forms of the game (including Sheffield Shield Player of the Season) I'm pushing his case forward, but I know what sort of trouble that opens up.
Another player is McDonald, but he's fallen off the map in One Day land. He's had a great First Class season, but you'll rarely see a utility player there (hence why I don't agree with Smith being in the Test team), and if there is that spot can be better utilised with another batsman or bowler. Plus Watson has the all rounder spot stitched up for a few years now.
I haven't been able to watch every team play, and as these sorts of players rarely have good records, can anybody name some from other states they think fit these categories?
At the moment that utility player is Steven Smith. He's the sort of player that might not look like he's doing very much, but like the channel 9 commentary team harp on about, they always do something good each match.
For those that argue he isn't this "utility" player that I've seemingly just made up, ask yourself what he's in the side for.
Is he there as a bowler? No. Is he there as a batsman? No. Is he there as a pure all rounder? No (That spot is already filled by Watson and D.Hussey anyway, and both do it much better than he does). And surely he isn't picked just for his fielding, or else there's quite a few better choices.
He's there for those occasions when he picks up three wickets, scores 10 runs of 3 balls, takes that catch or makes that run out. He's the perfect sort of batsman to have finishing with M.Hussey or the like in the last few overs.
I'm a very much a fan of this sort of player. You could have Ferguson in the side and I'm sure he'd score more runs, but he bats up the order and what happens if you need an extra bowler? You could also pick Hastings and he'd bowl better, but what happens if you collapse and need a batsman down the order, or somebody to simply pick off the boundaries?
Having talked Smith up, however, I'm not sure he is the right one.
After James Hopes' brilliant season in all three forms of the game (including Sheffield Shield Player of the Season) I'm pushing his case forward, but I know what sort of trouble that opens up.
Another player is McDonald, but he's fallen off the map in One Day land. He's had a great First Class season, but you'll rarely see a utility player there (hence why I don't agree with Smith being in the Test team), and if there is that spot can be better utilised with another batsman or bowler. Plus Watson has the all rounder spot stitched up for a few years now.
I haven't been able to watch every team play, and as these sorts of players rarely have good records, can anybody name some from other states they think fit these categories?