Steven Smith is a mediocre test match bowler

[cowboysfan]

they want to push him because they like what he brings to the table batting wise(however weird he looks when he is batting).i really dont see this experiment working out for them.

[thevortex]

I dont understand where people make out Smith as some kind of a better batsman. He is adventurous. He has heart. And he has power. That is about it. And he is a bit of a slogger. And the 'bit' bit is an understatement to be frank. Lets see him play a few different kinds of innings before we pass any opinion on him as a batsman. As a legspinner he is entirely predictable and utterly bereft of ideas. I mean, what kind of a leg spinner would want to bowl from around the wicket to a left hander? That too an attacking left hander? Allow me to answer that question. A defensive one. He does not get good drift and turn even when he floats the ball. That is not going to help in any way. For him to use Warne's approach and just modify it in the final two paces to set himself up will not do. He needs more revolutions and a stronger finish not to mention a stronger follow through. Otherwise he will not be able to put in the requisite revolutions on the ball. And if he does not do that, then there will be no drift nor break off the wicket. Plus he needs to get more side-on if he wants a better pivot and some more rip. In the process he will lose a bit of control. But hey, that is leg spin. Attacking leg spin, that is. Warne - for all his contributions to the game - did a great disservice to the game, unwittingly of course. His run up and action are not for everybody to copy successfully. But then, people try. And try...and try...

[Guest OriginalPrince]

steve smith is a high class batsman. his bowling is a plus but not his strength atm. i can see him developing into a useful spinner though.

[Chorazin Reto]

Im guessing they are looking at it from the angle that Hauritz is not an attacking spinner either, and Smith is better with the bat than Hauritz(although for a bowler Hauritz is quite handy with the bat). Hauritz is close to a bowling all rounder and Smith is a batting all rounder at domestic level.

[gaurav92]

I dont understand where people make out Smith as some kind of a better batsman. He is adventurous. He has heart. And he has power. That is about it. And he is a bit of a slogger. And the 'bit' bit is an understatement to be frank. Lets see him play a few different kinds of innings before we pass any opinion on him as a batsman. As a legspinner he is entirely predictable and utterly bereft of ideas. I mean, what kind of a leg spinner would want to bowl from around the wicket to a left hander? That too an attacking left hander? Allow me to answer that question. A defensive one. He does not get good drift and turn even when he floats the ball. That is not going to help in any way. For him to use Warne's approach and just modify it in the final two paces to set himself up will not do. He needs more revolutions and a stronger finish not to mention a stronger follow through. Otherwise he will not be able to put in the requisite revolutions on the ball. And if he does not do that, then there will be no drift nor break off the wicket. Plus he needs to get more side-on if he wants a better pivot and some more rip. In the process he will lose a bit of control. But hey, that is leg spin. Attacking leg spin, that is. Warne - for all his contributions to the game - did a great disservice to the game, unwittingly of course. His run up and action are not for everybody to copy successfully. But then, people try. And try...and try...

Steve Smith has got age on his side.He is young, very young.He will just grasp more and more from here on, he can only improve and learn from here on.I know he doesn't have much variety in his attack and therefore he isn't as effective as one perhaps being the only spinner of the team must be.Still i reckon he may develop new variety in his armoury soon when he get to know much more about the art of Leg Spin bowling from the Master - Warney. Having said that, his batting isn't mere slogging.It was in that game, where quick runs were needed and so he had to go beserk and keep pushing the run rate up, to get quick runs for a bigger target.That doesn't mean that he is a slogger.You can't tag him as a slogger.Yes, i know its too early to say, but still i think he will come out as a better batsman surely.Talking about slogging, Raina is definitely a slogger.He plays a few proper cricket strokes and has a range of some very unorthodox hoiks and flicks over the Cow Corner. Coming to the Point that you last mentioned, you CANNOT compare any damn Leg Spinner with a Legend like Warne :headshake:.Steve Smith has just played his initial 2 tests, wait for him to prove his worth mate.

[EnterTheVoid]

As a legspinner he is entirely predictable and utterly bereft of ideas. I mean' date= what kind of a leg spinner would want to bowl from around the wicket to a left hander? That too an attacking left hander? Allow me to answer that question. A defensive one. He does not get good drift and turn even when he floats the ball. That is not going to help in any way. For him to use Warne's approach and just modify it in the final two paces to set himself up will not do. He needs more revolutions and a stronger finish not to mention a stronger follow through. Otherwise he will not be able to put in the requisite revolutions on the ball. And if he does not do that, then there will be no drift nor break off the wicket. Plus he needs to get more side-on if he wants a better pivot and some more rip. In the process he will lose a bit of control. But hey, that is leg spin. Attacking leg spin, that is.

You are being too harsh on Smith, vortex, he has only played two tests. After 10 - 20 tests, we will be in a better position to gauge his abilities. At the present, we simply do not know enough of his bowling capabilities at an international test level to judge whether he will be a success or failure. He played for NSW - one of the toughest sides in the Australian Domestic Scene - and played very well, he is definitely no mug. I sincerely hope the courage and gutsiness he has showed in his batting translates to his bowling, I was very impressed by the way he composed his 77. He has a lot of potential but as they say, potential without results doesn't account for much.

[thevortex]

I dont think I was too harsh. Just stating what I saw of Steven Smith in that Test match. He is not the guy Australia needs right now. They need a better spinner. That is for sure. I can understand people wanting for him to be in the team. But then they have got to think about all the factors that go into team composition. How many ineffective bowlers can Australia have? Mitchell Johnson and Hilfenhaus are not going to win you matches consistently. In fact as a batsman you have got to blame yourself if you give your wicket away to Hilfenhaus. He is as straight an outswing bowler as you will get at the highest level of the game. Johnson - I think I have mentioned that I am no fan of his a long time back. And folks remember how well Johnson batted when he entered Test cricket. Lets not get carried away by these lusty hits. Right now we cannot rank Smith as a batsman in any way.

[gaurav92]

You are being too harsh on Smith, vortex, he has only played two tests. After 10 - 20 tests, we will be in a better position to gauge his abilities. At the present, we simply do not know enough of his bowling capabilities at an international test level to judge whether he will be a success or failure. He played for NSW - one of the toughest sides in the Australian Domestic Scene - and played very well, he is definitely no mug. I sincerely hope the courage and gutsiness he has showed in his batting translates to his bowling, I was very impressed by the way he composed his 77. He has a lot of potential but as they say, potential without results doesn't account for much.

Exactly my thoughts.

[EnterTheVoid]

I dont think I was too harsh. Just stating what I saw of Steven Smith in that Test match. He is not the guy Australia needs right now. They need a better spinner. That is for sure.

How can you gauge who Australia needs on the basis of two tests ?

[gaurav92]

I dont think I was too harsh. Just stating what I saw of Steven Smith in that Test match. He is not the guy Australia needs right now. They need a better spinner. That is for sure. I can understand people wanting for him to be in the team. But then they have got to think about all the factors that go into team composition. How many ineffective bowlers can Australia have? Mitchell Johnson and Hilfenhaus are not going to win you matches consistently. In fact as a batsman you have got to blame yourself if you give your wicket away to Hilfenhaus. He is as straight an outswing bowler as you will get at the highest level of the game. Johnson - I think I have mentioned that I am no fan of his a long time back. And folks remember how well Johnson batted when he entered Test cricket. Lets not get carried away by these lusty hits. Right now we cannot rank Smith as a batsman in any way.

Well Lets see which way he heads in the next few Tests.I rate him as a better batsman, though his bowling is still not upto international standards for an attacking spinner.

[thevortex]

How can you gauge who Australia needs on the basis of two tests ?

Well Sree - what do you think? Can Australia afford to have a bowler like him in their ranks? Their bowling is increasingly prone to being described as a pop gun attack. If you are the Aussie captain would you want to have Smith in your team? I know I would not. And we can only base our assessment on these two Tests. And I am not just going by the goings on in these two Tests. It is also about potential. As a bowler, I am not enthused by what I am seeing in him. As simple as that. He could prove me wrong and be a late bloomer. But somehow I doubt that...

[99.94]

Steve Smith is a ****ing crap bowler. He is not even a good first class bowler - he has only taken a handful of first class wickets in his career. He shouldn't be in the test team for his bowling or his batting.

[99.94]

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.

Yeah good one. North is fifty times the batter Smith is.

[King Tendulkar]

He certainly is a handy limited overs players in the form of a bits and pieces player. But as a test match bowler you have to be kidding me. The praise and hype he got from commentators was biazzare and frankly his bowling in the 2 tests was awful!

[99.94]

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

So North who topped the averages against New Zealand gets punted after two bad tests? Glad you're not one of our selectors.

[Mr. Wicket]

C'mon. It was New Zealand! (Besides, I think it's high time that Watson dropped back down the order to fill the no. 6 given the more active bowling role he's been taking - and let Hughes or Jaques come and open)

[King Tendulkar]

So North who topped the averages against New Zealand gets punted after two bad tests? Glad you're not one of our selectors.

Yes the first aussie v aussie fight on ICF:two_thumbs_up: Tired of seeing indians squabble with other indians on this site. Good to see aussies getting involved:--D

[King Tendulkar]

C'mon. It was New Zealand! (Besides, I think it's high time that Watson dropped back down the order to fill the no. 6 given the more active bowling role he's been taking - and let Hughes or Jaques come and open)

Hughes is awful. Cant play short ball and would get exposed by poms in ashes. Jaques may be. Watson should def not be opening

[99.94]

Yes the first aussie v aussie fight on ICF:two_thumbs_up: Tired of seeing indians squabble with other indians on this site. Good to see aussies getting involved:--D

Bradman loves pumping up the tyres of the NSWelschmen and has it in for North (as do most Aussies for some reason).

[King Tendulkar]

Is North that good thoough for tests? I feel neither his bowling or batting is quite up to the mark! Although no doubt he will have is days with the bat as in last ashes. But somehow he does not smack of real class which we are used to with you guys To be honest been dissapointed with newcomers in to aussie team apart from your seamers. I really thought you would have one or two quality bats ready to go but does not seem the case.