Steven Smith is a mediocre test match bowler

[King Tendulkar]

The comms seems desperate to hype him up. However, there is no doubt his bowling is very very average. In no way is he test match bowler and am shocked at the praise he gets. Yes he can field and bat but his selection in tests is based on his spin bowling. His bowling is mediocre. He should stick to limited overs cricket. I really hope he is selected against us. We will slaughter him

[gaurav92]

Well Aussie don't really have a quality spinner and apart from Hauritz and Casson and Heal etc. they have this youngster who adds some impetus to the batting line up and gives some balance in the team.

[kabira]

well you can't become class spinner overnight. Its long process. Shane Warne was flayed in his first series.

[The Realist]

If Smith is mediocre then what category does does Ojha fall into?

[Ahmed]

The comms seems desperate to hype him up. However, there is no doubt his bowling is very very average. In no way is he test match bowler and am shocked at the praise he gets. Yes he can field and bat but his selection in tests is based on his spin bowling. His bowling is mediocre. He should stick to limited overs cricket. I really hope he is selected against us. We will slaughter him

Well he can be picked in place of Marcus North and play as a specialist batsman and bowl a bit. This way Aussies will pick Hauritz as their frontline spinner.

[Ahmed]

well you can't become class spinner overnight. Its long process. Shane Warne was flayed in his first series.

Is this a fact or is it the general theme you hear about legends?

[Serani]

Is this a fact or is it the general theme you hear about legends?

With Warne its a fact.... However Steve Smith will never be a world beating spinner, he is a very good batsman though, much better than Marcus North.

[Zelig]

Aussies made some mistakes while picking this test side. I cant believe Hartley was overlooked for Paine and Smith gets picked just because the Aussies like to play a spinner. Instead they should have gone with a four paced attack. Let's wait and see if they play Usman for North in the next match at least.Frankly speaking, they have to.

[Lord]

Aussies made some mistakes while picking this test side. I cant believe Hartley was overlooked for Paine and Smith gets picked just because the Aussies like to play a spinner. Instead they should have gone with a four paced attack. Let's wait and see if they play Usman for North in the next match at least.Frankly speaking, they have to.

whos Hartley?

[Bradman99]

Is this a fact or is it the general theme you hear about legends?

It is true. Doesn't mean Smith will be the same. He's a star put it that way but I think he's a star more for his batting ability than his bowling. I consider him a batting all rounder.

[Bradman99]

With Warne its a fact.... However Steve Smith will never be a world beating spinner, he is a very good batsman though, much better than Marcus North.

Indeed. When Hauritz comes back I would like to see Smith take North's spot in the team.

[Lord]

hes a part timer to me.just not developed as a test bowler yet.good batsman though

[SJS50]

His virtue is his control over line and length which is pretty good for a young wrist spinner but having said that, for an orthodox leg spinner his lack of bite and turn off the wicket makes him very easy to play for the better batsmen and easier still to step out to. His problems are compounded by the lack of variety. He is young and may add variety but as he is today, he will be fodder for any fleet footed batsman. If you do not turn the leg spinner then you need to be bowling much quicker and/or should have a wrong one that moves laterally enough to cause the batsman concern. Today he does not look Test class. Whatever be the condition of Stuart Macgill today I cant believe he can be dropped in favor of Smith if he was available for selection

[Zelig]

whos Hartley?

Chris Hartley. Queensland WK/batsman. Sheffield Shield 2009/10 player of the year.

[Bradman99]

His virtue is his control over line and length which is pretty good for a young wrist spinner but having said that, for an orthodox leg spinner his lack of bite and turn off the wicket makes him very easy to play for the better batsmen and easier still to step out to. His problems are compounded by the lack of variety. He is young and may add variety but as he is today, he will be fodder for any fleet footed batsman. If you do not turn the leg spinner then you need to be bowling much quicker and/or should have a wrong one that moves laterally enough to cause the batsman concern. Today he does not look Test class. Whatever be the condition of Stuart Macgill today I cant believe he can be dropped in favor of Smith if he was available for selection

McGill retired 2 years ago.

[SJS50]

McGill retired 2 years ago.

Sure. Thats why I said "If MacGill was available for selection" The point being that even if MacGill was to come out of retirement, "whatever be his condition" , he would be a superior bowler. I am just giving the example of an old retired player, probably unfit, who was not the first choice leg spinner even at his peak, to show what I think of Australia's current leg spinning candidate. Sorry if it was not obvious. :-)

[Bradman99]

Fair call SJ

[Zelig]

What happened to Beau Casson? Is even playing for his state team any more?

[ZodiaC]

Sure. Thats why I said "If MacGill was available for selection" The point being that even if MacGill was to come out of retirement' date= "whatever be his condition" , he would be a superior bowler. I am just giving the example of an old retired player, probably unfit, who was not the first choice leg spinner even at his peak, to show what I think of Australia's current leg spinning candidate. Sorry if it was not obvious. :-)

I agree, such an underrated bowler... :((

[jusarrived]

if he plays 80 tests , surely will have more than 350 wickets though ;)