Smith on Standby

[GVGjr]

With Nathan Hauritz in doubt because of an injury Steven Smith has been placed on standby for the first test against the Pakistanis.

I guess this now makes a Jason Krejza recall in the short term very much in doubt but having seen Smith bowl in a FRC game I really don't think he is ready to bowl his spinners at the international level.

[chef]

Re: Smith on Standby

With Nathan Hauritz in doubt because of an injury Steven Smith has been placed on standby for the first test against the Pakistanis.

I guess this now makes a Jason Krejza recall in the short term very much in doubt but having seen Smith bowl in a FRC game I really don't think he is ready to bowl his spinners at the international level.

I would prefer to look elsewhere.

[GVGjr]

Re: Smith on Standby

I would prefer to look elsewhere.

Got any other names? Holland? McGain?

[mighty_west]

Re: Smith on Standby

Got any other names? Holland? McGain?

McGain too old, and the way the Sth Africans got to him, he'd be highly unlikely to get another chance.

Holland, does he take enough wickets? He looks to me as though he can contain runs unlike Krejza who is probably the opposite, but is he attacking enough?

Even though he is young, i wouldn't mind seeing how this Smith kid rsponds at Test level, one or two Tests against the Paki's couldn't hurt imo.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Smith on Standby

Holland, does he take enough wickets? He looks to me as though he can contain runs unlike Krejza who is probably the opposite, but is he attacking enough?

Even though he is young, i wouldn't mind seeing how this Smith kid rsponds at Test level, one or two Tests against the Paki's couldn't hurt imo.

Holland is superior to Smith in both taking wickets and containing runs.

I find selecting Smith as a standby player very odd, unless we are planning to go in with 4 pace bowlers if Hauritz is out anyway and we just want to give Smith the experience.

Smith's bowling is on par with a part timer at the moment.

[GVGjr]

Re: Smith on Standby

Holland is superior to Smith in both taking wickets and containing runs.

I find selecting Smith as a standby player very odd, unless we are planning to go in with 4 pace bowlers if Hauritz is out anyway and we just want to give Smith the experience.

Smith's bowling is on par with a part timer at the moment.

He's probably better than White but he is very much a work in progress and someone who couldn't be asked to tie up an end or take a bag of wickets. In an ideal scenario he would be the number 7 batsman and 2nd spinner.

[lemmon]

Re: Smith on Standby

Cullen Bailey? Running into some good form for SA and is probably the best wrist spinner in the land at the moment.

[GVGjr]

Re: Smith on Standby

Cullen Bailey? Running into some good form for WA and is probably the best wrist spinner in the land at the moment.

Big call I would have thought. He has struggled to get games for what is a very weak SA side. I heard Terry Jenner mention him the other day and I got the impression that he is still a mile off.

[chef]

Re: Smith on Standby

Got any other names? Holland? McGain?

After a bit more thought no one deserves it, players like X.Doherty, Holland, Heal and C.Simpson are options but they just haven't done enough.

Krejza is just too easy to score off and doesn't take enough wickets for me.

McGain would be a step backward not forward, this Australian team should be rebuilding not trying to hold on.

What has happened to Cullen?

[hujsh]

Re: Smith on Standby

Cullen Bailey? Running into some good form for WA and is probably the best wrist spinner in the land at the moment.

Cullen Bailey from SA or Heal from WA?

I doubt Bailey would even be better than Smith ATM.

[lemmon]

Re: Smith on Standby

Cullen Bailey from SA or Heal from WA?

I doubt Bailey would even be better than Smith ATM.

Sorry meant SA, hit the W instead.

[GVGjr]

Re: Smith on Standby

Is there any chance that Smith has been named as an emergency twice with an eye on including a 2nd spinner for the Sydney test?

That would mean we would need to go into the test with 2 quicks, Watson and the 2 spinners.
Surely if a batting all-rounder like Smith is included having him come in at 8 or 9 in the batting order isn't ideal.

To me, if we are to play two spinners in Sydney then it comes down to a choice between Holland or Krejza to partner Hauritz. I'd be leaning towards Holland but I'm not sure he has has done the work so far this summer.

[chef]

Re: Smith on Standby

Is there any chance that Smith has been named as an emergency twice with an eye on including a 2nd spinner for the Sydney test?

That would mean we would need to go into the test with 2 quicks, Watson and the 2 spinners.
Surely if a batting all-rounder like Smith is included having him come in at 8 or 9 in the batting order isn't ideal.

To me, if we are to play two spinners in Sydney then it comes down to a choice between Holland or Krejza to partner Hauritz. I'd be leaning towards Holland but I'm not sure he has has done the work so far this summer.

If they are going to play Smith, wouldn't he be better off playing instead of North and batting at 6(i haven't seen him play much)?.

The SCG isn't the raging turner it used to be so i doubt we would be playing 2 spinners anyway, but if they do i would prefer Holland to come in for Siddle.

[azabob]

Re: Smith on Standby

Is there any chance that Smith has been named as an emergency twice with an eye on including a 2nd spinner for the Sydney test?

That would mean we would need to go into the test with 2 quicks, Watson and the 2 spinners.
Surely if a batting all-rounder like Smith is included having him come in at 8 or 9 in the batting order isn't ideal.

To me, if we are to play two spinners in Sydney then it comes down to a choice between Holland or Krejza to partner Hauritz. I'd be leaning towards Holland but I'm not sure he has has done the work so far this summer.

There is an article in today's AGE, saying that Warne spent 45 mins with Smith in the nets yesterday for a one on one session.
Hence the reason why he was kept on.
They are also considering keeping him in the test squad so the pair can perhaps have another session in Sydney.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Smith on Standby

Is there any chance that Smith has been named as an emergency twice with an eye on including a 2nd spinner for the Sydney test?

That would mean we would need to go into the test with 2 quicks, Watson and the 2 spinners.
Surely if a batting all-rounder like Smith is included having him come in at 8 or 9 in the batting order isn't ideal.

To me, if we are to play two spinners in Sydney then it comes down to a choice between Holland or Krejza to partner Hauritz. I'd be leaning towards Holland but I'm not sure he has has done the work so far this summer.

Watson and Sydney suit the two spinners but we just don't have the quality to warrant it.