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General Cricket => Players => Topic started by: fros23 on January 04, 2014, 10:59:29 PM

Title: Steve Smith
Post by: fros23 on January 04, 2014, 10:59:29 PM
So Steve Smith has racked up his third hundred over the back to back ashes series, something that only Clarke and Lord Ian Ronald Bell have managed to do and there is still plenty of condemnation of him, mostly from my fellow English supporters.  Is this a case of us English not wanting to heap praise on him or does everyone feel that he is not cut out for test cricket?  He has more test hundreds than Root and is one behind Watson who is far more experienced.  Does that fact that he has a slightly ungainly looking technique at times prevent him from being rated by the majority?  I seem to recall that Collingwood was not a pretty batsman from a purists point of view but you would find very few Englishmen who wouldn't back him in a test match.  Is it just a case of rivalry that he gets plenty of stick from an English point of view or do Aussies view him in the same way or viewed Collingwood in the same way?
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: smilley792 on January 04, 2014, 11:01:49 PM
he has done well. he's certainly a fighter.


will be interesting to see how he gets on against the south Africans. if he mayes a ton there. he will be the real deal.
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: fros23 on January 04, 2014, 11:06:59 PM
he has done well. he's certainly a fighter.


will be interesting to see how he gets on against the south Africans. if he mayes a ton there. he will be the real deal.

He did well in India as well, so if he does well in South Africa is that the 'final frontier' for him and he can be classed as a test quality batsman?
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on January 04, 2014, 11:14:27 PM
He did well in India as well, so if he does well in South Africa is that the 'final frontier' for him and he can be classed as a test quality batsman?
Ive always thought his critics were harsh, he's not textbook but had talent. He won me over as test class in india, and 3 ashes hundreds is an achievement. He's scored twice as many tons this series as the whole England team!
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: DanBess13 on January 04, 2014, 11:16:27 PM
He is doing very well and he will definitely be in the aussie side for years to come, he has the potential to become a high ranked batsman and he's a fast and good in the field as well
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: fros23 on January 04, 2014, 11:20:28 PM
Ive always thought his critics were harsh, he's not textbook but had talent. He won me over as test class in india, and 3 ashes hundreds is an achievement. He's scored twice as many tons this series as the whole England team!

Is he still partly being judged on his performances when he was thrown in to the side in the 2010/11 series?  He seems to have worked hard and knows his game now as a batsman who can bowl a bit rather than the new warne as he was dubbed when he first started.  He is never going to be a Michael Clarke but he could well be a damn fine test batsman for Australia.
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: procricket on January 04, 2014, 11:57:28 PM
He is a dam fine batsman no doubt about it.

Big reservations about him but he is quality watching him he looks akward and ungainly but effective.

All he needs to do now is stop spitting every two minutes
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: Over Gully on January 04, 2014, 11:59:37 PM
The thing I find funny is that Poms continue to deride Smith, poor technique, etc, etc, yet as pointed out, he has scored 3 tons over the back-to-back series, yet you put Joe Root on a pedestal and he has shown far less. Smith is far from the green-horn he was in the 2010-11 series, he has improved his technique, he's gone back and made good shield runs and really starting to show he is comfortable at Test level. As an Australian, I find it very interesting that they have let Smith find himself, work out his game, refine his technique, yet they have interfered with Phil Hughes to the point where he never may come back and be the player he promised to be.
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: smokem on January 05, 2014, 01:01:14 AM
I have to say I was a Steve Smith doubter. But he played some quality knocks in India and my view started to change. His footwork to the Indian spinners on their home tracks was very impressive - among the best in the Aussie side. I was a bit miffed that he was initially left out of the Ashes squad in England. But he was later included and he's kicked on and made tons in the next 2 series. He looks unorthodox but he is a scrapper which I like. He's also a great fielder and a useful leggy who can break partnerships. He has risen since taking on the NSW captaincy and if he maintains his form and stays in the test side, he will be captain one day.
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: Gerry SA on January 05, 2014, 01:27:42 AM
Hint of Stephen Waugh is in Steven Smith's batting.

He's nuggety and values his wicket very highly. Gets tough runs and can absorb pressure.

If he's half as great as Stephen Waugh, the Australians will have a fine player.
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: ammo on January 05, 2014, 02:00:39 AM
He finds a way to score runs therefore it works,
Who knows maybe the "textbook style" is wrong all about perspective i guess
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: Wickets-then-runs on January 05, 2014, 04:17:06 AM
He definitely is a lot more settled at the crease these days. Even six months ago he would really fidget when taking guard: in fact, Andrew Symonds was commentating on a limited overs game Smith was batting in and started counting how many times he would straighten his pad, thigh guard etc and stopped counting at something like 15...
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: awp on January 05, 2014, 04:26:55 AM
At the same age/stage I think better than s waugh, as gerry says, an ominous sign for opposition.
I dont understand al the talk re his technique on here.  This is typical pom stuff, confusing style with technique.  All pom batters want to look pretty first play tidily from the crease.  That's not how to bat ..... clearly. Smith play forward, and back both sides of the wicket.   His average reflects being inconsistent,  normal stuff for a 23 year old. 
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: Vic Nicholas on January 05, 2014, 08:12:01 AM
A 20 year old kid who made 37 in his debut knock...had Andy "I am a moron" Flintoff tweeting "Australia are taking the piss if they think Steve Smith will ever make it as a test #6 batsman". In the last test of that series Smith made a gutsy 50 off not out.

The funny thing is, all you English fans treat everything Flintoff tweets as some sacraments of sacred knowledge to be passed down from generation to generation.

Steve Smith at the age of 23 has THREE Ashes hundreds.

Flintoff is now in hiding...typical sniper of kids.

Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: Alvaro on January 05, 2014, 10:10:54 AM

The funny thing is, all you English fans treat everything Flintoff tweets as some sacraments of sacred knowledge to be passed down from generation to generation.


You what now? :o All he tweets is drivel and abuse of Rob Key.

Enjoy those beers tonight Vic.
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: FattusCattus on January 05, 2014, 11:03:04 AM
Gosh - I can't tell you how much I am enjoying countless Aussies coming on here and telling me what I think about Aussie players and how I treat the tweets of certain English ex-players.

I can live with the banal anti-pommie 'banter', the endless baiting etc - that's life on a forum, and both sets of fans do it. I can certainly take the colossal shafting we're getting for being fans of a very poor side who has been stuffed - we deserve it.

But stop telling me what I think, and how I treat other peoples comments - it's boring and not true, I like Steve Smith, and I think Flintoff on twitter can be a dick - just like I think McGrath was a dick with his 5-0 predictions in previous years.

Still, maybe it's because all you Aussies have had too much sun and drink too much beer!

Sweeping generalisation a go-go!!!! :)
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: Manormanic on January 05, 2014, 11:09:46 AM
Smith averages, what, 35 in Test cricket - its a promising start, perhaps, but nothing yet to suggest that he is anything more than someone who might make it in time.  I think it should be said that he looks like a player who a decent bowling attack would enjoy bowling at - as England did in the first four tests over here and, you suspect, South AFrica will in the coming series - keep things tight and in the corridor and he doesn't seem to have the combination of technique/patience etc.  However, allowed reign to counterattack, he seems more comfortable. 

Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: Number4 on January 05, 2014, 11:13:00 AM
Gosh - I can't tell you how much I am enjoying countless Aussies coming on here and telling me what I think about Aussie players and how I treat the tweets of certain English ex-players.

I can live with the banal anti-pommie 'banter', the endless baiting etc - that's life on a forum, and both sets of fans do it. I can certainly take the colossal shafting we're getting for being fans of a very poor side who has been stuffed - we deserve it.

But stop telling me what I think, and how I treat other peoples comments - it's boring and not true, I like Steve Smith, and I think Flintoff on twitter can be a dick - just like I think McGrath was a dick with his 5-0 predictions in previous years.

Still, maybe it's because all you Aussies have had too much sun and drink too much beer!

Sweeping generalisation a go-go!!!! :)

How dare you talk to all of us humble Aussies like that ;) :D
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: FattusCattus on January 05, 2014, 11:15:30 AM
It's all of you - you're all the same, ha ha!

I'm Scottish - can you imagine the sweeping generalisations about us!

However, that probably means awp and Vic are descended from us - so that's food for thought :)
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: Number4 on January 05, 2014, 11:19:20 AM
I do remember a joke something about the Irish and Scotch finger biscuits... Weird people them Scots ;)
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: FattusCattus on January 05, 2014, 11:21:56 AM
Yeah - but we make great biscuits!
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: Number4 on January 05, 2014, 11:36:02 AM
True
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: ProCricketer1982 on January 05, 2014, 12:01:58 PM
Yeah - but we make great biscuits!

And whiskey
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: procricket on January 05, 2014, 12:07:48 PM
Lets be honest Smith is no Pujara is he hahah
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: Number4 on January 05, 2014, 12:12:14 PM
Lets be honest Smith is no Pujara is he hahah

Hmmm Pujara... Just another top order wicket Lyon has claimed ;) :D
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: procricket on January 05, 2014, 12:18:12 PM
Lyons is a world class bowler though no doubt about that.
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on January 05, 2014, 12:24:29 PM
And whiskey
I think you mean Whisky

Whisky - Scottish
Whiskey - Irish or American
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: ProCricketer1982 on January 05, 2014, 12:35:29 PM
I think you mean Whisky

Whisky - Scottish
Whiskey - Irish or American

Phone keeps changing words for me.. Helpful as ever
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: Boydie on January 05, 2014, 12:56:21 PM
I have to admit I'm now eating my words about Smith. I remember, a bit like Flintoff I'm ashamed to admit, saying that Smith had no chance of being a test batsman.

Whilst he's never going to be a textbook batsman whose technique brings joy to the egg and bacon old boys I do like watching him bat.
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: Vic Nicholas on January 05, 2014, 02:13:31 PM
Smith averages, what, 35 in Test cricket - its a promising start, perhaps, but nothing yet to suggest that he is anything more than someone who might make it in time.  I think it should be said that he looks like a player who a decent bowling attack would enjoy bowling at - as England did in the first four tests over here and, you suspect, South AFrica will in the coming series - keep things tight and in the corridor and he doesn't seem to have the combination of technique/patience etc.  However, allowed reign to counterattack, he seems more comfortable.

Smith made a fighting 50 and 89 in those first 4 tests (I love how you guys are prone to cherry picking to suit your agenda), so he was hardly useless.

When he made his debut as a 20 year old, Flintoff PANNED the kid. Warne tweets some drivel sometimes (maybe all the time), but he never pots a young kid. Whereas the brain damaged sociopath Flintoff was basically calling a 20 year old Smith the worst test player he had ever seen and "Australia are taking the piss if they ever think that Smith will be a test #6".

Smith may or may not make it long term as a test player, but, he has three Ashes hundreds to Flintoff's ONE.

Flintoff has gone into hiding now. Coward.
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: Vic Nicholas on January 05, 2014, 02:14:55 PM
You what now? :o All he tweets is drivel and abuse of Rob Key.

Enjoy those beers tonight Vic.

Thanks Alvaro old boy, but I do not like the taste of alcohol.

Orange juice, chocolate milkshakes and English tea are more my style! :)

Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: Johnny on January 05, 2014, 02:37:33 PM
Vic, Flintoff was clearly right.. smith has scored his runs as a no.5!! 😝

Seriously, England would happily have 6 Steve Smith's at the moment. At least he has some balls.
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: iand123 on January 05, 2014, 05:12:23 PM
Thanks Alvaro old boy, but I do not like the taste of alcohol.

Orange juice, chocolate milkshakes and English tea are more my style! :)

I do hope you don't give the English tea bags/leaves as much grief as you give us on here
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: iand123 on January 05, 2014, 05:17:19 PM
I had reservations about smith if I'm honest I still do. He's somewhat turned a corner and it's obvious he's put some work in in the shield (the India tour showed that)

He's still got a few floors that need working on and I think a quality bowling attack will still trouble him. SA in SA will be a big test for the lad. I hope he comes through and proves people like me wrong and he goes on to be an established test player for many years. Everyone loves an underdog especially one who's prepared to put the hard yards in to improve themselves, especially in an era when people with far from perfect techniques are happy to take the t20 money and run
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: Manormanic on January 05, 2014, 07:22:22 PM
Smith made a fighting 50 and 89 in those first 4 tests (I love how you guys are prone to cherry picking to suit your agenda), so he was hardly useless.

When he made his debut as a 20 year old, Flintoff PANNED the kid. Warne tweets some drivel sometimes (maybe all the time), but he never pots a young kid. Whereas the brain damaged sociopath Flintoff was basically calling a 20 year old Smith the worst test player he had ever seen and "Australia are taking the piss if they ever think that Smith will be a test #6".

Smith may or may not make it long term as a test player, but, he has three Ashes hundreds to Flintoff's ONE.

Flintoff has gone into hiding now. Coward.

Whilst I don't agree with your assessment of Smith's abilities (I'd sum my view up as he'd make a handy number six if he worked on the bowling a bit), I totally agree that Flintoff, as usual, was out of line.  Though Warne not pot shotting a kid?  I seem to recall him christening Ian Bell "The Shermanator"!
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: Vic Nicholas on January 07, 2014, 09:14:07 AM
Ian Bell STILL is the "The Sherminator"!

That was never a critique of Bell's abilities, but a commentary on who he looks like!

I do stand partially corrected though, as I do remember Warne in a commentary stint in 2009 saying that Bopara "does not look like a test #3". It wasn't derogatory...more an observation that Bopara's loose technique was not suited to facing a newish ball. The English selectors agreed with Warne as they eventually picked J. Trott later in that series who was rock solid at #3.
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: cricketbadger on January 07, 2014, 09:27:27 AM
I've never quite understood it, Bell doesn't even look like the Sherminator
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: leeroy on January 09, 2014, 05:04:00 PM
I really hope he manages to make at least one decent score in SA so he can really show that he can bat in all conditions. I think if he can have a good series he will have cemented his place for a long time.
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: Buzz on January 09, 2014, 05:44:48 PM
I've never quite understood it, Bell doesn't even look like the Sherminator


(http://img.thesun.co.uk/aidemitlum/archive/00222/bell0512_222985a.jpg)
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: ProCricketer1982 on January 09, 2014, 05:53:26 PM
([url]http://img.thesun.co.uk/aidemitlum/archive/00222/bell0512_222985a.jpg[/url])


I thought it was a good name for bell. He resembles the Sherminator !!
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: Manormanic on January 09, 2014, 06:56:12 PM
He more resembles my friend Sally's pet rodent...
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: smilley792 on January 10, 2014, 01:40:43 PM
Mark Waugh on this mornings big bash says smith will be the next Australian captain.
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: Manormanic on January 10, 2014, 04:35:33 PM
Mark Waugh on this mornings big bash says smith will be the next Australian captain.

paucity of candidates really at this stage, if you bear in mind that to be a candidate you have to be young enough to outlast Clarke.
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: procricket on January 10, 2014, 04:37:31 PM
Suspect he be using a bigger brand soon
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: ProCricketer1982 on January 10, 2014, 07:02:42 PM
paucity of candidates really at this stage, if you bear in mind that to be a candidate you have to be young enough to outlast Clarke.

Clarkes back is going/is gone. He won't last much longer.
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: FattusCattus on January 10, 2014, 08:33:30 PM
I like Smith - I like the unorthodoxy and I like the way he plays the pull.

I hope he keeps up his bowling though - a leggie is always fun to watch!
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: smilley792 on January 10, 2014, 08:36:36 PM
Anyone see the big bash this morning? He captained well. But seemed to have brain fade in the super over.

In the main game he got 60 odd from 45, played conventional(ish) cricket, hitting in the v mainly. Odd great square drive.

Super over, first ball. Tries to lap it over the keeper and missed by a foot. Got bowled. And they ended up 2 all out.

He then spent 5mins going through a box of 6 balls and just looked perplex, Brett lee had to come over and pick a ball for him.
Very strange,
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: FattusCattus on January 10, 2014, 08:47:21 PM
Can you please adjust your auto-correct!! You are on the verge of gibberish man!
Title: Re: Steve Smith
Post by: leeroy on January 11, 2014, 10:37:46 AM
Yeah Smith getting bowled trying that ramp shot was comedic. Slow full toss that just knocked out off stump. Should have just stood there and gave it the punishment it deserved.