Steve Smith is one of the best batsman in the world. Unfortunately his captaincy isn’t as good.
Smith is a poor tactician and lacks creativity. His lack of confidence in Adam Zampa is ridiculous. Zampa was the leading wicket taker in ODIs in 2016, yet Smith only gives him a bowl towards the end of the innings.
In Australia’s world Twenty20 game against India last year, Smith refused to back Zampa and only gave him two overs, it was a decision that cost Australia the match.
(AAP Image/SNPA, John Cowpland)
His refusal to bowl Glenn Maxwell doesn’t make sense either, Smith has only given Maxwell eight overs all year, instead bowling Travis Head for ODIs, despite the fact that Maxwell has a superior bowling record.
However his main problem is that he lacks imagination, Smith rarely uses his part time bowlers. Instead he persists with his frontline bowlers, even when they aren’t getting results.
Smith has a number of part time bowling options he could use, himself, David Warner heck Matthew Wade might actually be able to contribute something to the team.
Compare this to David Warner, when regular opener Aaron Finch was injured for Australia’s Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka last year. Warner needed to pick a new opener. The standard options for an opening batsman would have been Shaun Marsh or Usman Khawaja.
Warner decided to open with Glenn Maxwell, the decision paid off.
For years, Michael Clarke was lauded for his creativity and cricket nous. His field placings and tactical changes allowed Australia to compete at a time when we lacked cricketing talent in other areas.
We know that Smith is a great batsman, perhaps the best in the world right now. But he’s no captain.
David Warner should be the Australian captain, he has the creativity and imagination that Steve Smith lacks.
Ravikant sahu
Guest
David Warner become a good Captain for aus he has a creative technical and aggressive , daring
Saurebh Gandle
Roar Guru
+1 every point is so very put forward. Not just Zampa but Lyon in Tests too . Lyon hasn't had the confidence he had under Clarke. Smith startegy to go ahead with bits & pieces cricketer like Henriques.Head isn't going to work . Shaun Marsh or George Bailey should have been playing in CT 11 squad.
George
Guest
Well said. I don't think Clarke was as good as many made out.
Mitcher
Guest
SPEAK UP!!
Savage
Roar Rookie
*saw
Savage
Roar Rookie
Troy merrit,agreed glad you something different.India wasted lots of over in that test(ranchi test) which resulted in draw.had he allowed part timers against indian batsmen(especially pujara) india would've scored at higher pace thus giving them enough overs to bowl out australian team.
Savage
Roar Rookie
for those people saying that warner should be made captain must remember that you would ideally want your best player to lead the team.And there is no player better than smith in the world.Warner still need to prove with bat in away conditons and his place in team is not secure unlike smith.
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
The key to the left of the "A" is the Caps Lock key. Switch it off mate. Use it only for first letter of the sentence, or proper nouns.
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
Good team, but you are forgetting the rules. We need 1 Mitch and 1 Marsh in every Australian team selected. You have a Mitch, but are short 1 Marsh.....
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
Think you summed it up nicely in your third paragraph. How would Davey Warner give someone a rocket for throwing their wicket away, when he had done the same thing in the 3rd over of the match, chasing a wide one. Sometimes leadership involves setting an example for others to follow.
nick
Guest
+3 He also managed to extract some competitiveness from Australia in India this year, something his more "creative" predecessor could not manage in Asian conditions.
Troy Merritt
Guest
I used to think that Clarke was a good captain, especially given his predecessor. For all the talk of Clarke's brilliance in trying something funky and getting results, he very often tried something funky and got nothing or got punished. When it works, he looked great, when it didn't, he looked silly. Smith certainly looks conservative, and people can talk about match awareness or the fact the he under owls the part-timers, but that turned a corner for me in the India series. When we were getting nowhere and Indian looked to be marching ahead, he stuck to the script and only bowled the front liners including Cummins, who was fragile in his first match back. People howled about how he wasn't a moving the game forward, But what he did was keep the pressure on India. This meant no easy runs for India, took time out of the match and let Australia play for a draw, keeping the series alive. It wasn't a popular decision, but it was the right one. Just because Smith is more conservative than Clarke doesn't make him a bad captain. He is playing with a young inexperienced side, and before they can start to win, they have to learn not to lose. I don't think Australia ever batted out a draw under Clarke, but they have under Smith. Give him a more experienced side, and he will start to become a bit more proactive.
AGordon
Guest
Davros, he didn't hang his players out to dry, he called it as he saw it - a bunch of highly paid "professionals" showing zero ticker. Who is going to captain the side when Warner gets dropped for not performing outside Australia? Have a look at his stats, not very convincing away from home. http://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Players/PlayerHomeAway.asp?PlayerID=3637
Paul D
Roar Guru
About the only thing you can bag Smith out for is the way he uses spinners, but you could say the same about many levels of Australian cricket, has been one of Warne’s (few) legitimate gripes since he retired, that grade & state captains don’t use spinners properly and the pitches often don’t suit them. Smith runs the show, Warner is like the chief whip, to use a government phrase. Sgt Major to Smith’s officer. Keeps the troops in line and supports his skipper. I think given the alternatives I’ll take Smith’s proven quantities over an unknown leap into the dark.
Junior Coach
Guest
+2-he is tactically a far superior captain to Ponting , he does have a lack of confidence in legspin whether it be his own or Zampa's . As for team selections he can only play with what he is given- I dont read much into the CC results .
Big Daddy
Guest
Obviously davros got so excited he forgot to take caps lock off!!!
davros
Guest
AND TO THINK FOR MANY MANY YEARS , AFTER HAVING PASSED HIM OVER FOR THE CAPTAINCY IN THE FIRST PLACE , THE C A BOARD HUNG ON AND HUNG ON TO AN UNDERPERFORMING TAYLOR ..ALL THE WHILE WRINGING THEIR HANDS AND PUBLICLY STATING IF WE SACK TAYLOR ...WHO WOULD BE CAPTAIN ? FREAK IT USED TO GRIND MY GEARS ...WHEN THE OBVIOUS (NOW PROVEN ) SUCCESSOR WAS STARING THEM IN THE FACE !
MH01
Guest
Hooper and Smith must have graduated from the same class when it comes to tactics and strategy . Very good lesson why an excellent player should not be captain
jameswm
Roar Guru
+ 1
davros
Guest
ID HAVE WARNER OVER SMITH ANY DAY ...I ALSO NOTICED A WILLLINGNESS WHEN THE S..T HIT THE FAN WITH A POOR PERFORMANCE FOR HIM TO HANG HIS PLAYERS OUT TO DRY IN FRONT OF THE MEDIA . (TO ME WAS NOT A VERY GOOD LOOK AT ALL ) ALSO YOU CAN SEE THE NATURAL LEADERSHIP CREDENTIALS AS THE PAY DISPUTE ROLLS ON ...WARNER HAS NOT BEEN AFRAID TO STAND UP SPEAK HIS MIND OPENLY AND BE COUNTED !