1st Test: Australia v West Indies @ Adelaide Oval Jan 17-19, 2024

[Chins get the wins]

Another pro for Smudge going to opener is opposing teams theoretically should pitch the ball up more. He’s been bogged down (from his excessively lofty standards) post-Archer because they’ve been bowling more short stuff to him. Should get more chance to free those sexy autistic arms opening, or else they ruin their new ball with short crap.

Even this fella gets it

 

[mozza91]

 

[Mr. Shaman]

Even this fella gets it

I’m Chinese you racist

 

[Bazal]

@Pippen94 is truly deserving of the most hallowed title in cricket.

Good work, champ

 

[hineyrulz]

Never has a poster in the cricket forum deserved to be champed more.

 

[Mr. Shaman]

Never has a poster in the cricket forum deserved to be champed more.

Perhaps early days Sunshine

 

[Twizzle]

dunno, Antilag would give him a run for his money

 

[Bazal]

Perhaps early days Sunshine

Jeez, steady on sport.

 

[gUt]

 

[Pippen94]

Smith is the best batsman since Bradman and is still ranked 3rd currently statistically in a "slump" you absolute dumbmerkin. The point I was making was very clear

Nah, nobody knows what you're arguing including yourself. You're not good at the back & forth forum thing because you're not very bright. Next you'll descend to straight up abuse like everybody else who's brain fails them. Predictable as Smith not being long term answer to opening spot..

 

[Pippen94]

View attachment 83241

Not funny

 

[Chins get the wins]

Nah, nobody knows what you're arguing including yourself. You're not good at the back & forth forum thing because you're not very bright. Next you'll descend to straight up abuse like everybody else who's brain fails them. Predictable as Smith not being long term answer to opening spot..

Says the man picking Harris to open....fmd merkin

 

[Mr. Shaman]

Nah, nobody knows what you're arguing including yourself. You're not good at the back & forth forum thing because you're not very bright. Next you'll descend to straight up abuse like everybody else who's brain fails them. Predictable as Smith not being long term answer to opening spot..

Green is the obvious bloke to invest in for the middle order and Australian cricket in general, no long term openers have revealed themselves yet. May as well take a chance on Smith re- my last post on the matter, than on a bum who nobody likes and his plod, and not playing Green.

 

[Chins get the wins]

Green is the obvious bloke to invest in for the middle order and Australian cricket in general, no long term openers have revealed themselves yet. May as well take a chance on Smith re- my last post on the matter, than on a bum who nobody likes and his plod, and not playing Green.

Don't waste your time

 

[TheParraboy]

Whats a good pass mark for Smith as opener in these two tests considering the opposition?

Assuming he will bat 3 times, ie. we win one test by an innings

210 runs, average 70 ?

 

[TheParraboy]

I think Smith is in decline (the beginning?), it happens to all the greats, no shame in acknowledging it

We have all seen the way he has batted, and the way he has been getting out

Because he has come from years of dominating, averaging 49 in recent times is still bloody good, but not the Smith of old, where he was averaging 70+ in seasons.

Maybe the opening gig might give him a positive reset, should dominate the West Indies and do well vs the Kiwis. Be interested to see how he goes beyond

 

[Chins get the wins]

I think Smith is in decline (the beginning?), it happens to all the greats, no shame in acknowledging it

We have all seen the way he has batted, and the way he has been getting out

Because he has come from years of dominating, averaging 49 in recent times is still bloody good, but not the Smith of old, where he was averaging 70+ in seasons.

Maybe the opening gig might give him a positive reset, should dominate the West Indies and do well vs the Kiwis. Be interested to see how he goes beyond

He'll average ×3 what Harris would at least and probably double Snitchcroft

 

[Fangs]

We have all seen the way he has batted, and the way he has been getting out

As you say the average is still good. Its just the way he has been going about it which is troubling.

I feel as though the skills have only diminished a little. Maybe getting out bowled/LBW a bit more? No stats for that but at his peak he was great with anything on the pads.

Most of it looks like headspace to me. His last dismissal at the SCG was partially the surface but it was premeditated coming down the pitch. That is not Steve Smith.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Nothing less than a triple century in Smith's first 2 innings as opener or its a failure.

 

[Chins get the wins]

Nothing less than a triple century in Smith's first 2 innings as opener or its a failure.

I'm confident