Steve Smith...PACK YOUR BAGS

Steve Smith...PACK YOUR BAGS

Lets take him to New Zealand.

He is on fire at the moment, blasted 177 and then took 5 wickets against Tasmania. Brillant fielder.

Lets take him as the reserve batsmen. Pick North in the run on team.

This kid is electric, lets get him into the fray.

With the bat his scored 627 runs in 12 innings @ 74.

With the ball his got 14 wickets @ 60.

Nothing to write home about but surely his worth a spot on the tour.

LETS DO IT.
 
Re: Steve Smith...PACK YOUR BAGS

Don't like the way he is meant to be a spin bowler and has reknowned for his batting...
 
Re: Steve Smith...PACK YOUR BAGS

In my mind I just can't pick him. I know he has been batting brilliantly, but are we really wanting who is supposed to be a bowling all rounder batting at 6 for the next ten years? What happens when the magic batting form comes to an end and he's left with leg spinners that leave him with an average of 50, when Hauritz is in the team as well?

I really like him, but if he's in the team it has to be for his bowling at the moment, and that isn't good enough.
 
Re: Steve Smith...PACK YOUR BAGS

Im not saying he has to be in the team, I'm saying lets take him as the reserve batsmen - he can bat just about anywhere. His form in the shield is as good as anyone else, he is averaging 70+ with the bat.

If he was to be picked it would be predominately for his batting.

As far as I'm concerned North should be picked in the first eleven, with Smith as the reserve batsmen. If anything happens to Katich or Watson then we can fly Hughes over.
 
Re: Steve Smith...PACK YOUR BAGS

I'd have Jaques as reserve opener, he's in the best form of all the openers domestically currently, plus he has games behind him where he has been more succesful than Hughes.

I would also pick another batsman before Smith. McDonald maybe if the bowling is to be extended, and put Haddin to number 6, but I would prefer a proper batsman. Not sure who though as my head has been swamped with names lately and I can't pull one out.
 
Re: Steve Smith...PACK YOUR BAGS

Where did you get the idea that he isn't a proper batsman? All this media spin about him being the next Warne shouldn't detract from the fact the he is good enough to be selected on his batting along, and could easily hold down the number 6 spot for Australia.
 
Re: Steve Smith...PACK YOUR BAGS

a for effort;391280 said:
Where did you get the idea that he isn't a proper batsman? All this media spin about him being the next Warne shouldn't detract from the fact the he is good enough to be selected on his batting along, and could easily hold down the number 6 spot for Australia.

Is he a bowling all rounder that is having a good season or a batting all rounder that is having a bad season bowling?

That's my problem. If he's just having a good season then next year he mightn't be averaging 30. If he's in the side at number 6 is a proper batsman with some years to put under his belt.

I'd still prefer North to him. I wouldn't be able to select him if I can't work out what he's good for, because then you can't pick the rest of the team around him.
 
Re: Steve Smith...PACK YOUR BAGS

He's good for batting. Whatever artificial tag gets placed on him doesn't make a bit of difference. Just because some believe him to be a 'bowling all-rounder' instead of a 'batting all-rounder' it doesn't mean his average is going to inevitably drop to 30 because he's only supposed to be good at bowling. I get the impression that you would be more keen on having him in the team if he didn't bowl at all, because then you could call him a specialist batsman, who are obviously superior to all bowling all-rounders by default. I'm sure you realise how silly that would be if it was the case.
 
Re: Steve Smith...PACK YOUR BAGS

a for effort;391285 said:
He's good for batting. Whatever artificial tag gets placed on him doesn't make a bit of difference. Just because some believe him to be a 'bowling all-rounder' instead of a 'batting all-rounder' it doesn't mean his average is going to inevitably drop to 30 because he's only supposed to be good at bowling. I get the impression that you would be more keen on having him in the team if he didn't bowl at all, because then you could call him a specialist batsman, who are obviously superior to all bowling all-rounders by default. I'm sure you realise how silly that would be if it was the case.

I see your argument, and you are partly right. I'm not going to drag this out into more than it should be, but I will say I would not put him in the team.

He has only this season behind his belt and for a batsman/spin bowler that isn't enough to say he will be around the team benefiting them for at least two summers.

ODI team - sure put him in there.
 
Re: Steve Smith...PACK YOUR BAGS

It is hard to argue with his tally of runs in the Shield, and he has only had 12 hits in the shield and is averaging 70 odd.

To me that deserves serious consideration with a view to taking him as a reserve batsmen, if you need to fly an opener over if Katich or Watson gets injured then lets fly Hughes over.

People can't be scared of picking batsmen that are young, if he was 26 people would be rioting in the streets to get him picked.
 
Re: Steve Smith...PACK YOUR BAGS

Please defend your stance Boris. The old 'You make a good point but I'll ignore it anyway' is a cop out.
 
Re: Steve Smith...PACK YOUR BAGS

Why do you want to take him on tour?
Surely he would be much better off getting more experience in the shield or county cricket. If you take him on tour all he gets is disappointed at not being picked and experience at carrying drinks. If experience is his problem get him off the touring team and get him playing as much as he can.
I say if he wants to play T20 sure and as the one day side is so interchangeable play him but keep him out of the test squad rather than make him sit around all tour.
 
Re: Steve Smith...PACK YOUR BAGS

a for effort;391304 said:
Please defend your stance Boris. The old 'You make a good point but I'll ignore it anyway' is a cop out.

Didn't do that, I agreed to disagree. Different to ignoring.
 
Re: Steve Smith...PACK YOUR BAGS

brickwaller99;391309 said:
Why do you want to take him on tour?
Surely he would be much better off getting more experience in the shield or county cricket.

The tests begin after the Australian domestic season ends and are completed before the English domestic season begins. 'All Tour' is something like a fortnight, as there are only two tests.

boris said:
Didn't do that, I agreed to disagree. Different to ignoring.

Yeah but you can't always take an 'agree to disagree' stance on every issue instead of defending your own arguments. Blogs are for voicing your opinion without the need to defend yourself, discussion forums are for debate and conversation, and conflict is a natural part of that. Don't be afraid to tell someone you think they're wrong if you think you have a better idea.
 
Re: Steve Smith...PACK YOUR BAGS

a for effort;391315 said:
Yeah but you can't always take an 'agree to disagree' stance on every issue instead of defending your own arguments. Blogs are for voicing your opinion without the need to defend yourself, discussion forums are for debate and conversation, and conflict is a natural part of that. Don't be afraid to tell someone you think they're wrong if you think you have a better idea.

I tried to refrain myself from going on my usual ramble :p, I'm sure tommy rissole would be fuming :D

I don't think he's up to it. You are saying that he will be batting number 3/4/5 in the future as he progresses through his career. I have seen no evidence that he is a true batsman.

If you claim him to be as good as a normal batsman then I will treat him like one - in which case I wouldn't put him in until he's had another season.
 
Re: Steve Smith...PACK YOUR BAGS

Fair enough, based on form I think he'd do as good a job as anyone at number 6, but the selectors do seem to like waiting for youngsters to get a few good seasons under their belt (with Phil Hughes being the obvious exception). Personally if North was to get dropped, I would like to see Smith in the team, though White seems a more likely prospect at this stage.
 
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