I'm not sure that we will fully appreciate quite how good Smith is 'til he retires but he will go down as one of the greatest Test batsmen of all time - not just in terms of average (over 62 now) but in terms of hand to eye, concentration, innovation and self belief.
Can anyone imagine what our coaches would do to a young lad who turns up in the nets with his bat waving at gully and covering all three stumps? Some of his technique has been honed during his career but I really do wonder whether coaches would take into account that the bat does come down straight at the point of impact and that the ball is rarely missed? Will our batsmen of tomorrow even be allowed to copy him?
Sometimes one has to accept that the likes of Murali, Malinga and Smith are freaks and that they have made their craft work for them simply because of the repetitive and consistent nature of the discipline.
And to think that Smith holds dual Australian and English citizenship.
One of the directors at work is going to Australia for Christmas, got tickets for the 5 days at Melbourne, he's hoping there will be something to play for.
One of the directors at work is going to Australia for Christmas, got tickets for the 5 days at Melbourne, he's hoping there will be something to play for.
Yeah they can play drinking games.
Let’s hope it’s not a beer every time we take a wicket. Could be a rather sober day.
Rose colored spectacle prediction. Bowlers come out fired up, remove Smith and the Marsh boys in the first hour. Demolish the tail in the 2nd hour. Stoneman does his best gritty Geordie bit, Ellen comes in creams the ball around for an hour or so and England finish the day 240 ahead with 8 wickets in hand.Sir Geoffrey lambasts Australia powder puff attack, mentions rhubarb, his Moom and England’s grit at least three times. England bask in the glory of another wonderful day down under and we dream of the 3-2 comeback. Simple really.
PS perfect day is completed by the much maligned Mag scoring a hat trick and me getting all 6 numbers on the lotto.Not asking much
Can I suggest you don’t put your life savings on Mag getting a hat trick?
I really thought we would lose the series 4-1. i now think it will be 5-0. The only chance of getting a draw in this game is rain. I also think it is about time that some of England's old stagers are dropped. Broad has hardly got a wicket and Cook has hardly got a run. Bring in Wood and Foakes.
For the next tests we should be flying out Burns and Meaker (pace). Play Crane and Foakes and Wood . Bairstow at 5. Maybe even Sam Curran (left arm).
Tell then they have nothing to lose. Go out there and play some decent cricket. Compete.
Surrey is not always the answer to England's problems you know :P
True. But Burns has to be the next one to be given a go at the top of the order. Averages well over 40. Scored 1000 runs at the top of the order for 3 years running is div 1. Apparently the only reason he's not considered is because he isn't fluent and nice to watch whilst batting. That is from Alec Stewart at a members meeting. Instead he is described as tough and nuggety difficult to get out. Whixh sounds like exactly what we need.
Name me a quicker English bowler than Meaker? I'll wait. Has something like 8 of the 10 quickest balls ever bowled at the England performance centre at Loughborough.
Foakes is the best keeper in the country and is already in the squad.
Sam is the best young left arm quick in the country. And he can bat.
I mean, from 368-4, 400 kind of IS a disaster, but we've not been bowled out yet
we'll be lucky to get 400. I said this yesterday. England are like Charlton - never fail to let you down.
I'm off to bed at lunch. I expect The Aussies to get 500+ & have a lead of 150 or so.
Sorry, too pessimistic........to the Aussies !! I thought at least we would try. I can see them getting 650 -700 & then England having to survive 5 sessions - which aon't going to happen.
Don't fotget I also said that we were going to lose 3-0 this afternoon.
Comments
Smith 182*
Marsh 100*
Lead by 18.
Can anyone imagine what our coaches would do to a young lad who turns up in the nets with his bat waving at gully and covering all three stumps? Some of his technique has been honed during his career but I really do wonder whether coaches would take into account that the bat does come down straight at the point of impact and that the ball is rarely missed? Will our batsmen of tomorrow even be allowed to copy him?
Sometimes one has to accept that the likes of Murali, Malinga and Smith are freaks and that they have made their craft work for them simply because of the repetitive and consistent nature of the discipline.
And to think that Smith holds dual Australian and English citizenship.
Up in time to see his double century...
Smith 204*
Marsh 150*
Lead by 90
We need to look to the future. The days of relying on Broad and Anderson are numbered.
For the next tests we should be flying out Burns and Meaker (pace). Play Crane and Foakes and Wood . Bairstow at 5. Maybe even Sam Curran (left arm).
Tell then they have nothing to lose. Go out there and play some decent cricket. Compete.
Foakes
Stoneman
Vince
Root,
Malan,
Bairstow,
Moeen,
Woakes
T. Curran,
Wood,
Anderson
This is the same Graeme Swann who quit and ran home to England half way through the last Ashes tour out here...
Talks well one minute and then complete and utter tosh the next.
Name me a quicker English bowler than Meaker? I'll wait. Has something like 8 of the 10 quickest balls ever bowled at the England performance centre at Loughborough.
Foakes is the best keeper in the country and is already in the squad.
Sam is the best young left arm quick in the country. And he can bat.
Don't fotget I also said that we were going to lose 3-0 this afternoon.