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Haddin and Smith - two priceless assets in regaining the Ashes

Steve Smith and Australia should have the Ashes in mind. (AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK)
Expert
3rd January, 2014
14

It’s rare in a five-Test series that batsmen filling the 5 and 7 slots have been so adept at stopping the rot as Brad Haddin and Steve Smith have been this summer.

Haddin, the second oldest in the side by 43 days – 36 years and 73 days to Chris Rogers’ 36 and 126 – and Smith the youngest of the baggy greens at 24 and 216, have relished the saviour’s role.

Haddin has been the most consistent batsman on both sides, passing the half century in six of his seven visits, including 118,

Smith has passed the half century twice, and converted both into centuries – 111 and 115.

They have been involved in 11 partnerships this campaign that have had a profound effect on team totals – two of them together:

200 – Michael Clarke and Haddin for the sixth wicket at Adelaide, they came together at 5-257 and the team total ended up 570.

128 – Smith and Haddin – sixth – SCG – 5-97 – 326.

124 – Smith and Haddin – sixth – WACA – 5-143 – 385.

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114 – Haddin and Mitchell Johnson – seventh – Gabba – 6-132 – 295

90 – Haddin and Johnson – seventh – Gabba – 6-305 – 401.

78 – Shane Watson and Smith – fourth – WACA – 3-223 – 369.

67* – David Warner and Smith – fourth – Adelaide – 3-65 – 3-132.

59 – Smith and Johnson – seventh – WACA – 6-257 – 385.

56 – Smith and Ryan Harris – eighth – SCG – 7-269 – 326.

48 – Rogers and Smith – fourth – MCG – 3-62 – 204.

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42 – Smith and Johnson – sixth – MCG – 5-112 – 204.

The averages substantiate the Haddin-Smith alliance:

Haddin – 465 run at 66.42.
Warner – 507 at 63.37.
Smith – 320 at 45.71.
Clarke – 357 at 44.62.
Watson – 336 at 42
Rogers – 344 at 38,22
George Bailey – 137 at 22.83.

Boundaries:
Warner – 64
Haddin – 50
Rogers – 44
Watson – 43
Smith 41
Clarke – 37
Johnson 17.

Sixes:
Haddin – 9
Bailey – 8
Watson – 6
Warner – 5
Smith – 3
Johnson – 3
Harris – 3.

And before Roarers jump up and down on the one spot and say what about the attack, and especially Mitchell Johnson, this is exclusively a salute to Brad Haddin and Steve Smith for achieving far more than was reasonably expected, invariably at critical times.

And they did it with power, placement, and precision to become priceless assets for the Australian side.

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