New Years Test - Australia vs Pakistan

[GVGjr]

Re: New Years Test - Australia vs Pakistan

It seems the options for this test are to play Agar for Maddinson at 6 and leave everything else unchanged or to bring in Cartwright and a 2nd spinner in place of Maddinson and a paceman (presumably Bird). To me, option A is the more appealing and logical.

Agar has an average of 26 in the shield so it's likely if he was selected it would be at 7 with Wade moving up to 6. While Wade at 6 could work his form with the bat of late isn't that encouraging.

I tend to think 2 changes will be made to the last test line-up.

[GVGjr]

Re: New Years Test - Australia vs Pakistan

It's now been reported that Cartwright will make his debut and SOK will replace Jackson Bird.

[Twodogs]

Re: New Years Test - Australia vs Pakistan

Then why didn't they name O' Keefe in the first place? Did they get a good look at Agar in the nets and decide no thanks?

[Bornadog]

Re: New Years Test - Australia vs Pakistan

Then why didn't they name O' Keefe in the first place? Did they get a good look at Agar in the nets and decide no thanks?

Agar will be considered for the India tour. Steve Smith says the SCG pitch has a different type of spin to Indian ones.

[Twodogs]

Re: New Years Test - Australia vs Pakistan

Agar will be considered for the India tour. Steve Smith says the SCG pitch has a different type of spin to Indian ones.

Smith couldn't read a pitch if it came with subtitles.

[Bornadog]

Re: New Years Test - Australia vs Pakistan

Smith couldn't read a pitch if it came with subtitles.

I like Smith ,I think he is fantastic. Has made over 1000 runs in 2016 averaging over 70.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: New Years Test - Australia vs Pakistan

I like Smith ,I think he is fantastic. Has made over 1000 runs in 2016 averaging over 70.

I wonder if he's comfortably number 2 to Bradman for batting average as full time captain? I think he's also over 70 as captain.

[Bornadog]

Re: New Years Test - Australia vs Pakistan

I wonder if he's comfortably number 2 to Bradman for batting average as full time captain? I think he's also over 70 as captain.

70 odd was for 2016

His Record to date:

[Twodogs]

Re: New Years Test - Australia vs Pakistan

I like Smith ,I think he is fantastic. Has made over 1000 runs in 2016 averaging over 70.

Good batsman but he couldn't captain his way out of a wet paper bag.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: New Years Test - Australia vs Pakistan

70 odd was for 2016

His Record to date:

Ta.

Ch9 had a graphic the other day about his batting average pre captaincy and post captaincy, and I think it was about averaging 70 since getting the captaincy. I'd guess only Bradman would have a better batting average as Australian captain.

[GVGjr]

Re: New Years Test - Australia vs Pakistan

Good batsman but he couldn't captain his way out of a wet paper bag.

While I think he can certainly improve in this area he inherited a side that wasn't great and he's now just starting to get a batting line-up that can compete and a bowling line-up capable of taking wickets. It's not his fault that the selectors have fluffed a few selections. He needs to be judged over the next 12 months based on how the team performs.

If the likes of Cummings and Pattinson get fit then he will have a formidable number of quicks available and we would then need to lock in a couple of batsman to give him a good team to lead.

I've had a good look at other options to captain this side and I can't find a replacement. It's something the states need to work on.

[Bornadog]

Re: New Years Test - Australia vs Pakistan

Good batsman but he couldn't captain his way out of a wet paper bag.

Ta.

Ch9 had a graphic the other day about his batting average pre captaincy and post captaincy, and I think it was about averaging 70 since getting the captaincy. I'd guess only Bradman would have a better batting average as Australian captain.

73.71 – Smith’s batting average as captain, the second highest among the 85 skippers who have at least scored one thousand runs. He is just behind Bradman (3147 runs at 101.51).

	Matches	Won	Lost	Drawn	Tied	No result	Win %
Test [76]	19	10	5	4	0	–	52.63%
ODI [77]	33	19	13	0	0	1	59.37%
T20I [78]	8	4	4	0	0	–	50%
Last updated:		30 December 2016

[bulldogtragic]

Re: New Years Test - Australia vs Pakistan

73.71 – Smith’s batting average as captain, the second highest among the 85 skippers who have at least scored one thousand runs. He is just behind Bradman (3147 runs at 101.51).

	Matches	Won	Lost	Drawn	Tied	No result	Win %
Test [76]	19	10	5	4	0	–	52.63%
ODI [77]	33	19	13	0	0	1	59.37%
T20I [78]	8	4	4	0	0	–	50%
Last updated:		30 December 2016

That's an incredible stat, after 19 tests his average is nearly 74 and only second to Bradman. That's incredible.

[Greystache]

Re: New Years Test - Australia vs Pakistan

Good batsman but he couldn't captain his way out of a wet paper bag.

I'd have him comfortably ahead of Ponting as captain. His team is weaker but Smith is better. To be fair Ponting was the worst captain I've ever seen.

[Twodogs]

Re: New Years Test - Australia vs Pakistan

I'd have him comfortably ahead of Ponting as captain. His team is weaker but Smith is better. To be fair Ponting was the worst captain I've ever seen.

Agree about Ponting and in a way it reinforces my point. For some reason we have an obsession in cricket with making the best batsman the captain of the team but it's not often the best batsman is the most tactical thinker or has the best feel for the game. Mark Taylor was far from the best batsman in the country but he was a bloody good captain.


I dunno. Maybe I'm wrong but I just get the feeling that Smith has no feel for the flow or the tempo of the game. He frustrates me when he goes on the defensive at the drop of a hat and I think he loses control of the game too often.