K's hommage to Steve Smith
Flat-Track Bully Steve Smith's batting record in pink-ball Adelaide Tests is putrid! But Oz's record is great! Perfect, actually, isn't it??
It shows yet again:
What's good for Smith is bad for Oz.
What's good for Oz is bad for Smith.
The reason is obvious. Smith needs very, very flat pitches and balls that don't swing to score runs. But in those conditions the Oz bowlers don't know what to do. So Oz lose. In conditions fairer to bowlers, Oz have a chance, with Cummins, Hazlewood and co. (And Starc needs the ball to swing. Otherwise, he can't even hold his place in the team.)
e.g. Against India last year... Sydney and Brissy versus Adelaide. (Lucky Vihari and Jadeja were injured in Sydney. If not, India would have thrown the bat and won that one too.)
It shows yet again:
What's good for Smith is bad for Oz.
What's good for Oz is bad for Smith.
The reason is obvious. Smith needs very, very flat pitches and balls that don't swing to score runs. But in those conditions the Oz bowlers don't know what to do. So Oz lose. In conditions fairer to bowlers, Oz have a chance, with Cummins, Hazlewood and co. (And Starc needs the ball to swing. Otherwise, he can't even hold his place in the team.)
e.g. Against India last year... Sydney and Brissy versus Adelaide. (Lucky Vihari and Jadeja were injured in Sydney. If not, India would have thrown the bat and won that one too.)
- Donny
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Smith was excellent, today. Held the batting together to set up a good total and then snapped up a hot chance for the first wicket. Took Starc off after just 3 overs to let Neser loose. Bang. Wicket, second ball.K wrote:Media now report...
Cummins captain
Smith v-c
Well done, Patty.
But the v-c choice is bad for world cricket. There are already enough monsters in power. (Better than making him c of course.)
Donny.
It's a game. Enjoy it.
It's a game. Enjoy it.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-18/ ... /100710928Steve Smith's seamless transition to fill-in Australia captain spells trouble for England in second Ashes Test
His Test batting average at Adelaide, though, remains a paltry 58.6 in his 7 and a half Tests there. Really, what would happen to a team if its top 6 could each only manage an average of about 60?
Lotta talk pre-Test 'bout Rooty not leaving balls and nicking off.
Yesterday he gets to 50... and then an atrocious shot to nick off!!
No need to ask why Rooty was totally filthy with himself as he walked off.
Many of the England batsmen threw their wickets away... So it was hard to tell what the batting conditions are actually like.
......................................................................................
And just now...
Anderson again destroyed Flat-Track Bully Smith's defective technique!!
Look at Anderson's dismissal of Smith in Adelaide LBW. Smith could not cope with a teeny weeny bit of seam movement.
Today, Smith was bowled off the inside edge. It's one thing to look good when there's zero swing, zero seam, zero pace, zero spin.... It's another thing when there's a teeny weeny bit of movement. Then his defective technique is destroyed! Actually gobsmacking how reliably he's destroyed when there's anything for the bowlers.
Yesterday he gets to 50... and then an atrocious shot to nick off!!
No need to ask why Rooty was totally filthy with himself as he walked off.
Many of the England batsmen threw their wickets away... So it was hard to tell what the batting conditions are actually like.
......................................................................................
And just now...
Anderson again destroyed Flat-Track Bully Smith's defective technique!!
Look at Anderson's dismissal of Smith in Adelaide LBW. Smith could not cope with a teeny weeny bit of seam movement.
Today, Smith was bowled off the inside edge. It's one thing to look good when there's zero swing, zero seam, zero pace, zero spin.... It's another thing when there's a teeny weeny bit of movement. Then his defective technique is destroyed! Actually gobsmacking how reliably he's destroyed when there's anything for the bowlers.
cricinfo's highlights of Smith's innings:
27.1 Anderson to Smith, 1 run
Inside-edge! Buttler sprawls to his left, but can't cling on! It was through the gate, edge onto pad-flap, changing the pace of the ball as it deflected through... fingertipped to fine leg, but another drop!
28.1 Stokes to Smith, FOUR runs
Edged and wide of second slip! Hitting the deck hard, kissing the splice, and that would have been straight into the clutches of the vacant third slip
28.5 Stokes to Smith, 3 runs
Banged in shorter this time, and Smith swings into a top-edged pull, high over square leg, and plugs in no-man's land. Chancy!
32.1 Stokes to Smith, no run
Past the edge! Well bowled, full outside off, draws Smith across the crease and it nibbles away
35.1 W Anderson to Smith, OUT
Cleaned him up! Reward for a superb spell. Good length outside off, Smith plays forward and it takes an inside edge into the top of the stumps. The bat slightly angled, and there was a bit of a gap. ...
27.1 Anderson to Smith, 1 run
Inside-edge! Buttler sprawls to his left, but can't cling on! It was through the gate, edge onto pad-flap, changing the pace of the ball as it deflected through... fingertipped to fine leg, but another drop!
28.1 Stokes to Smith, FOUR runs
Edged and wide of second slip! Hitting the deck hard, kissing the splice, and that would have been straight into the clutches of the vacant third slip
28.5 Stokes to Smith, 3 runs
Banged in shorter this time, and Smith swings into a top-edged pull, high over square leg, and plugs in no-man's land. Chancy!
32.1 Stokes to Smith, no run
Past the edge! Well bowled, full outside off, draws Smith across the crease and it nibbles away
35.1 W Anderson to Smith, OUT
Cleaned him up! Reward for a superb spell. Good length outside off, Smith plays forward and it takes an inside edge into the top of the stumps. The bat slightly angled, and there was a bit of a gap. ...
Another failure by FTB Smith...
And then he was (mildly??) concussed fielding...
Out of the rest of the slogathon series...
Obviously not good for his health... But also bad for Oz planning... 'cos if he played 3 more games and failed 3 more times, it might give Bailey and co. the courage to do the right thing and drop him... Now, will Bailey be smart enough and brave enough for the Slogathon WC??
And then he was (mildly??) concussed fielding...
Out of the rest of the slogathon series...
Obviously not good for his health... But also bad for Oz planning... 'cos if he played 3 more games and failed 3 more times, it might give Bailey and co. the courage to do the right thing and drop him... Now, will Bailey be smart enough and brave enough for the Slogathon WC??