Pretty sure they kept him in team knowing he is not a "slogger" , coming back after a ban, and with one eye in world cup squad.
I would be surprised if they didn't know as it was public discussion that he has to prove his form in ipl to get chance in WC squad.
well there you go.
now that you explain it, is very clear
PS i hope whoever is paying him is happy with him prepping for the world cup (for which he is not even selected) rather than winning games here and now
I didn't suggest he was there to be the 'hitman'. I said it was a bit slow. Not very slow, not a bad innings. But with wickets in hand he should have accelerated earlier than he did.
You need to stop assuming that I'm having a crack at Smith. I'm glad he showed some form.
I don't doubt the pitch was a bit tricky, but there's no point having 7 wickets in the bank and striking at 124 when you've faced half the balls in the innings.
"you responded to imply he wasn’t slow "
No I didn't respond to imply that he wasn't slow. I responded to imply that he played his natural game on a pitch that was difficult for "fast" slogger like buttler, stokes. He relatively easily handled two top quality spin curtail of csk(though SR under 100) & kkr keeping in mind he is in ipl with focus on world cup.
That's why I asked if he watched the match.
James it's worth noting that Smith scored at 7.5 runs per over while Buttler/Stokes combined faced 48 balls for Rajasthan while scoring at only 5.5 runs per over.
Given how quickly both Buttler and Stokes normally score that highlights how difficult it was to score rapidly in that innings.
Funny.
Buttler was there to "slog", so was stokes. Even Indian batsman barely made any contribution in that innings. Smith was never there to be " the hitman".
My question was about , if you watched the game. What is your thinking on how he played spinners on a slow gripping track vs Warner 2 day earlier.
He was barely above run-a-ball til he got to 50, his side only lost three wickets, he batted virtually the whole innings and the team only made 139. In contrast, KKR chased that total down in only 14 overs and each of their top 3 went at a SR of better than 150.
By any T20 measure that's 'a bit slow', even if the pitch was easier to bat on second.
It's not about 73 n.o. it's how he handled very good spinners on a slow no pace pitch that impressed me. He & Handscomb might be long term middle order combo.
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
Pretty sure they kept him in team knowing he is not a "slogger" , coming back after a ban, and with one eye in world cup squad. I would be surprised if they didn't know as it was public discussion that he has to prove his form in ipl to get chance in WC squad.
Peter Warrington
Guest
well there you go. now that you explain it, is very clear PS i hope whoever is paying him is happy with him prepping for the world cup (for which he is not even selected) rather than winning games here and now
Peter Warrington
Guest
striking less and less every year since the 15 world cup. contextless.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I didn't suggest he was there to be the 'hitman'. I said it was a bit slow. Not very slow, not a bad innings. But with wickets in hand he should have accelerated earlier than he did. You need to stop assuming that I'm having a crack at Smith. I'm glad he showed some form.
Tom
Guest
Averaging near or over 50 every year for the last 4 yrs aside from last year. Clueless.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I don't doubt the pitch was a bit tricky, but there's no point having 7 wickets in the bank and striking at 124 when you've faced half the balls in the innings.
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
"you responded to imply he wasn’t slow " No I didn't respond to imply that he wasn't slow. I responded to imply that he played his natural game on a pitch that was difficult for "fast" slogger like buttler, stokes. He relatively easily handled two top quality spin curtail of csk(though SR under 100) & kkr keeping in mind he is in ipl with focus on world cup. That's why I asked if he watched the match.
Peter Warrington
Guest
nor a 50 over player IMHO. btw you responded to imply he wasn't slow and now you say he is meant to be slow I must be slow!
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
James it's worth noting that Smith scored at 7.5 runs per over while Buttler/Stokes combined faced 48 balls for Rajasthan while scoring at only 5.5 runs per over. Given how quickly both Buttler and Stokes normally score that highlights how difficult it was to score rapidly in that innings.
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
Funny. Buttler was there to "slog", so was stokes. Even Indian batsman barely made any contribution in that innings. Smith was never there to be " the hitman". My question was about , if you watched the game. What is your thinking on how he played spinners on a slow gripping track vs Warner 2 day earlier.
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
Yes he is supposed to be slow. He is not slogger nor a natural t20 player.
JamesH
Roar Guru
He was barely above run-a-ball til he got to 50, his side only lost three wickets, he batted virtually the whole innings and the team only made 139. In contrast, KKR chased that total down in only 14 overs and each of their top 3 went at a SR of better than 150. By any T20 measure that's 'a bit slow', even if the pitch was easier to bat on second.
Peter Warrington
Guest
He was slow. He has been slow for years.
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
It's not about 73 n.o. it's how he handled very good spinners on a slow no pace pitch that impressed me. He & Handscomb might be long term middle order combo.
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
Hope you have watched the game before declaring " he was slow"?
JamesH
Roar Guru
Nice knock, albeit a bit slow in the circumstances.
Neel
Roar Guru
Well, well, well. Smithy fires and I must say it’s good to see him post a good score.
Peter
Roar Rookie
Looking good!