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[Number4]

I fail to see how that loss was Smith's fault

[rickjames]

How many matches did he skip in the winter so he could prepare for this series again?

He's unimaginative, he whinges and doesn't seem very tactically astute. From where I'm sitting he was given it solely on his batting. Clarke may have not been the best for team unity, but tactically the guy had his head screwed on. The only thing I'll say to defend Smith is that he's got an incredibly inconsistent bowling attack.

I think since Warner's got himself together he's far better suited for the job.

[ppccopener]

im not sure there are many natural skippers in the Aussie squad at the moment. That does come with a change in players from match to match and looks like a couple of changes for the next match

The Australians have lost some real quality in a fairly short space of time which of course is what every team tries to avoid happening.

[Felix Tito]

Can we start to call Smith a poor captain? I always had a hunch but I really don't think he's the right man to take them forward.

Nothing Smith can do if the like of Voges, M Marsh and Nevill(made decent effort in the second innings) can't consistently score runs.

[Felix Tito]

Ashton Agar took career best figures for Western Australia 10fer, Steve O'Keefe also took 8 wickets in that match and Jon Holland also took 8 wickets for Victoria. Yet Lyon still gets a free pass...

[Alvaro]

Lyon has those other rollers on toast.

Holland was an embarrassment in SL and barely plays FC cricket, O'Keefe turns it less than Liam Dawson and Ashton Aqar is a vanity project.

[Felix Tito]

Lyon has those other rollers on toast.

Holland was an embarrassment in SL and barely plays FC cricket, O'Keefe turns it less than Liam Dawson and Ashton Aqar is a vanity project.

Maharaj showed the benefit of having a very accurate SLA spinner. Maharaj wasn't exactly jagging it square. O'Keefe's probably near enough the same style bowler.

The majority of Lyon's victims where softened up by Johnson/Harris and got out to Lyon by slogging against him. There's no threat from Lyon when the rest of the attack isn't firing.

[Alvaro]

213 Test wickets

[csnew]

To be fair to Lyon he's done pretty well at home. His record at home is probably better than on the subcontinent. As I said before he's only being picked as a good bloke selection.

[Felix Tito]

213 Test wickets

Ishant Sharma has a similar amount doesn't make him good either...

[Felix Tito]

To be fair to Lyon he's done pretty well at home. His record at home is probably better than on the subcontinent. As I said before he's only being picked as a good bloke selection.

Done well at home as Johnson was firing down bumpers at 95mph so the little lobber comes on and pitches up a few cheap wickets

[Alvaro]

Ishant Sharma has a similar amount doesn't make him good either...

Lyon was something like 13th spinner after Shane Warne and has certainly held his own. To make it as an offspinner in Australia takes some talent. He certainly deserves respect for his record and is one of the leading Test spinners in the world. He has comfortably out bowled O'Keefe in the subcontinent and in the UAE. He's also bowled well in his home and away Ashes series.  An average of 33 isn't great, but an economy of 3 is good in the modern game and his strike rate of 60 odd is much better than average. He's got ticker too.

I suspect that England would take him in a second.

[ppccopener]

Let's be honest


Lyon would walk into the England side

[WalkingWicket37]

Let's be honest


Lyon would walk into the England side

To be fair, I bowl spin.
If I was 6 stone lighter and born in Yorkshire I'd walk into the England team!

[Felix Tito]

Lyon was something like 13th spinner after Shane Warne and has certainly held his own. To make it as an offspinner in Australia takes some talent. He certainly deserves respect for his record and is one of the leading Test spinners in the world. He has comfortably out bowled O'Keefe in the subcontinent and in the UAE. He's also bowled well in his home and away Ashes series.  An average of 33 isn't great, but an economy of 3 is good in the modern game and his strike rate of 60 odd is much better than average. He's got ticker too.

I suspect that England would take him in a second.

I dunno if you're trying to mug me off or just being awkward but I took the opportunity to just up the stats for Lyon vs O'Keefe in the UAE(sad I know  )

Lyon 3 wickets at 140 a piece
O'Keefe 4 wickets at 54 a piece

So in fact O'Keefe was nearly three times better than Lyon in terms of average.

Lyon is average