Steve Smith

[bulldogtragic]

First, the news package showed a bit of Smith's innings. So my question is, is he the best pull shot player since Ponting?

Second, this year he's played in three series, three continents, three very different styles of pitches and made centuries in every series. Who was the last player (outside Clarke) to do that?

Third, all the commentators on 9 say he should not solely focus on batting at practice and keep bowling. I see that POV, but since he's committed to his batting this year he'd done reasonably well. Is his bowling so good as to interfere with his mindset?

[azabob]

Re: Steve Smith

Sorry to de-rail, 2 or 3 centuries?

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Steve Smith

Sorry to de-rail, 2 or 3 centuries?

I thought it was centuries in India, England and yesterday off memory (which I wouldn't rely on!), I'll double check.

Edit: It was a 92 in India. My bad.

Back to the thread.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Steve Smith

Third, all the commentators on 9 say he should not solely focus on batting at practice and keep bowling. I see that POV, but since he's committed to his batting this year he'd done reasonably well. Is his bowling so good as to interfere with his mindset?

I think he needs to really establish himself with his batting.

His bowling should not be neglected, but if he can roll the arm over and be dangerous on turning pitches that is enough. He should only bowl as an attempt to break parnerships or when conditions really suit.

[Greystache]

Re: Steve Smith

If he's to make it as a Test cricketer it has to be as a batsman, and I've been pretty vocal that he's good enough to do that. It would be a mistake however not to keep working on his bowling, there's something there to work with, and if he can develop into a credible spin option it would add a massive amount of flexibility to the selectors.

[lemmon]

Re: Steve Smith

Will make it is a test batsman, his eye and hands are simply too good not to. Is probably a spot high at the moment though, looks a number 6 for me

[KT31]

Re: Steve Smith

You can see he has worked very hard on all aspects of his game.
Love his passion and his want to be involved in the game attitude.
Won't ever be selected in the side as a bowler only but if he keeps working on his batting and temperament he will be in the side a long time.
I also think he is one spot to high, but we have bigger worries than him at five at the moment.

[Sedat]

Re: Steve Smith

If he's to make it as a Test cricketer it has to be as a batsman, and I've been pretty vocal that he's good enough to do that. It would be a mistake however not to keep working on his bowling, there's something there to work with, and if he can develop into a credible spin option it would add a massive amount of flexibility to the selectors.

Yep, when you are the no.5, you need to cut it as a specialist batsman who can bowl a bit, and Smith is certainly earning his keep on that measure. He's a very good slipper as well, which completes a good all-round package, but he needs to keep working much harder on his batting than bowling to ensure he keeps performing in his primary role in the team.

The last thing he'd want would be to lose form with the bat and rely on his part-time offerings with the ball to keep him in the team. One of the great embarrassments of the last 20 years was seeing Michael Bevan picked as a specialist spinner in tests because his test batting was so sub-par. Was obviously brilliant in ODI's when there was virtually no short stuff allowed from the bowlers, but he was a dead man walking whenever he came out to bat in tests - caught meekly fending to he slips/gully was his mode of dismissal with monotonous regularity.

[westdog54]

Re: Steve Smith

If he's to make it as a Test cricketer it has to be as a batsman, and I've been pretty vocal that he's good enough to do that. It would be a mistake however not to keep working on his bowling, there's something there to work with, and if he can develop into a credible spin option it would add a massive amount of flexibility to the selectors.

Agree. You can always throw him the ball every now and then to change things up as used to be done with Ponting before he was skipper, but let him concentrate on his batting.

[Bornadog]

Smith recognised as the world's best

Now ranked number one

story here

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Smith recognised as the world's best

What a rise to the top. Not sure that many picked it, let alone how massive the rise is and may long be.

[Greystache]

Re: Steve Smith

After his 251 for one dismissal this Test Steve Smith is now the official number 1 ranked Test batsman.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Steve Smith

After his 251 for one dismissal this Test Steve Smith is now the official number 1 ranked Test batsman.

Are you and BAD the same person?

[Bornadog]

Re: Steve Smith

Are you and BAD the same person?

I hope not

[lemmon]

Re: Steve Smith

Imagine how deep a hole we'd been in if England managed to poach him as they tried when he was a youngster