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* * * The Ashes - Official Thread * * *
- Thread starter Marc
- Start date
Stumpy Tim
Well-known member
Let's not forget Colly getting Hussey out in the first innings in Sydney. He is a real loss, and I don't think that's understood right now. He's our best fielder, gets runs and gets the odd wicket. To be honest, I think he retired early
Very true. A lovely way to go out knowing your last ball in test cricket got the best batsman of your fierciest foes out.
I agree I wished he didn't retire because if he has a good batting World Cup which he might, all of a sudden he will think why have I given up playing test cricket and he brings to the test side much much more to his game than just his batting (the best fielder and a useful 5th bowler).
I do think though that at his age and with his ability at one day cricket, there is the lure of the Big IPL contract (and other shortened versions of the game franchises) which I am sure played a big part in his decision to give up in test cricket.
He was playing for his place, there was plenty of pressure on him. There was no pressure on Siddle as he's a bowler but it was Smith's chance to show that he was a test player - that's a lot of pressure, I reckon. There's no parallel with Russell, Jack's main job wasn't to score runs - if he scored 0 or 50, he was still keeper, but Smith really had to prove his worth.
MikeySmall
Well-known member
All I can say is I hope he has played himself into the side for a long time to come.
I wouldn't get too cocky about it, there's some raw talent there - coupled with some dreadful shot selection. I reckon that he's got something, as long as he's not at no 6.
- Jul 7, 2003
- 47,630
BRILLIANT
This is my favourite line (out of many):
England are in serious strife if they lose any of their first XI. There's a vast gulf between their top-tier players and those on the standby list. Australia can only hope and pray that off-spinner Monty Panesar is called in for Graeme Swann. Australia have eight Test-standard speedsters in the queue.
OK, so Australia have themselves a potential number 7 batsman (with some dreadful shot selection) and an occasional slow bowler with series figures of 31-3-138-0. Hurrah!
Yeah, but he can learn to cut out the silly shots.
The reason I'm so hesitant to damn a player so young is that I remember 20-odd years ago that Australia played a young all-rounder who had plenty of promise but kept getting out, but the selectors stuck with Steve Waugh anyway.
I remember jokes about him in those early days as he scored just two 50s in his first ten games and took him four years to get a ton but we weren't laughing for too long.
Leekbrookgull
Well-known member
Alastair Cook. 36 hours. 766 runs. ave 127. Take a bow young man.
See you in 2 minutes Mart.