Third Test Australia v Pakistan Jan 3-7 1000hrs @ the SCG

[Soggy2112]

Kick in the guts for openers around the country.

Bancroft's papers well and truly stamped

The question wasn’t Bancroft v Smith. It was Bancroft v Green, Smith opening is purely the mechanism to get Green in.

If you’re asking who deserves the spot more and who will contribute more out of Bancroft or Green the answer is clearly Green IMO.

If you’re also betting your life on who’s more likely to score runs at the top out of Bancroft and Smith, again I think the answer is clearly Smith.

This is a sign that coaches and selectors are not as rigid in their view of the opener role and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. If you stop and think about it, technically there is absolutely no reason a successful top order bat can’t successfully open. There is a different challenge mentally and not everyone is up to it, however I think opening will actually free up Smith a little. It will likely mean bowlers will be more conventional in their field placings and lines/lengths to him which I think will help resolve some of the issues he’s had scoring since Wagner worked him out.

Tbh I think the “you need a specialist opener” thinking is a bit outdated in the modern game.

 

[Soggy2112]

I wonder how this will impact his game gor WA now. He now no longer has the drive or incentive to make as much runs as possible. I wish he doesn’t take his foot off the pedal and just starts making runs for just as a * you to the selectors. Hopefully he does a klinger/voges and just pile the runs on

He’s still a sniff of being picked if Smith fails at the top or if either Marsh or Green get injured (which is not unlikely), Usman is also not getting any younger.

Needs to take a leaf out of a couple other WA openers in Hussey and Rogers. If he’s good enough a successful test career is still there for him.

 

[THE A5]

On Green yeah he is overhyped but not overrated. He had an FC average of 50 at 21 (mind you he is still young at 24) and hence why he became a “golden boy”. While his he didn’t set the world on fire his test record is decent. He can hit the ball hard but he isn’t a 6 as he isn’t really much of a counter attacking player. Made all his fc runs higher up the order and bats like a 3/4. Mind you he has a ton of talent but his at most of times his confidence has been low at that level. Once it clicks(just like it has for the Bison) he’ll be a force. With such an aging side I don’t mind Aus having that eye on the future.

I can see a similar thing happening when a spot opening up for a fast bowler and they go with someone like Morris instead of going with Boland even tho his record Is amazing

 

[Kram]

I wonder how this will impact his game gor WA now. He now no longer has the drive or incentive to make as much runs as possible. I wish he doesn’t take his foot off the pedal and just starts making runs for just as a * you to the selectors. Hopefully he does a klinger/voges and just pile the runs on

If he gives up that easily then it was the right decision for him to be overlooked.

Just has to keep making runs and you never know when an opportunity comes up.

 

[THE A5]

He’s still a sniff of being picked if Smith fails at the top or if either Marsh or Green get injured (which is not unlikely), Usman is also not getting any younger.

Needs to take a leaf out of a couple other WA openers in Hussey and Rogers. If he’s good enough a successful test career is still there for him.

Well he’s got half a shield season to ho as well and has over 500 runs to this stage.

 

[THE A5]

The question wasn’t Bancroft v Smith. It was Bancroft v Green, Smith opening is purely the mechanism to get Green in.

If you’re asking who deserves the spot more and who will contribute more out of Bancroft or Green the answer is clearly Green IMO.

If you’re also betting your life on who’s more likely to score runs at the top out of Bancroft and Smith, again I think the answer is clearly Smith.

This is a sign that coaches and selectors are not as rigid in their view of the opener role and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. If you stop and think about it, technically there is absolutely no reason a successful top order bat can’t successfully open. There is a different challenge mentally and not everyone is up to it, however I think opening will actually free up Smith a little. It will likely mean bowlers will be more conventional in their field placings and lines/lengths to him which I think will help resolve some of the issues he’s had scoring since Wagner worked him out.

Tbh I think the “you need a specialist opener” thinking is a bit outdated in the modern game.

I don’t mind Smith as an opener. I can actually see him being quite proactive as an opener(especially if he makes runs early on). All the openers coming in are playing for their careers and with Uzzi it probably doesn’t make an ideal combo. Smith at least could give us a bit of that counter punch that Warner provides

 

[THE A5]

If he gives up that easily then it was the right decision for him to be overlooked.

Just has to keep making runs and you never know when an opportunity comes up.

He does seem quite head strong and even after the sand paper debacle came back even more hungry and in a better head space. Also at WA he will have enough support around him to get through it too.

 

[Soggy2112]

I don’t mind Smith as an opener. I can actually see him being quite proactive as an opener(especially if he makes runs early on). All the openers coming in are playing for their careers and with Uzzi it probably doesn’t make an ideal combo. Smith at least could give us a bit of that counter punch that Warner provides

It also asks a really tricky question of the opposition. The teams that have had the most success against Smith have bowled boring lines and put heaps of fielders in front of the wicket.

Now that goes against everything you want to do as a new ball bowler. You want to bowl full, have heaps of slips, encourage the drive and attack the stumps. But we all know if you go at the stumps against Smith with minimal leg side protection then you’re asking for trouble.

So you’ve either got to risk letting him get away early and then try and rein him in. Or you have to bowl boring from the start which will likely mean he’ll survive at least 40-50 balls when you need to be making early inroads, particularly in Australian conditions.

I also think that if you’re as intense as Smith it is a real possibility that he’s mentally fatigued. He’s “completed” cricket essentially, which wouldn’t help. He now has a brand new challenge, and for a guy who clearly cares about his standings amongst the greats, to succeed as an opener late in his career gives him something that no one else really did.

 

[Silver Tongue]

I don’t mind Smith as an opener. I can actually see him being quite proactive as an opener(especially if he makes runs early on). All the openers coming in are playing for their careers and with Uzzi it probably doesn’t make an ideal combo. Smith at least could give us a bit of that counter punch that Warner provides

Worth considering who replaces Uzzie in my opinion....

The entire Bancroft thing is a smoke screen. He will never get a gig after coming out as a whistleblower.

Smith will open with Uzzie against the Windies. I very much doubt Bancroft will get a look in when they replace Uzzie. Probably Renshaw as he has youth on his side. Harris has had a few chances but who knows.

I don’t mind Smith as an opener. I can actually see him being quite proactive as an opener(especially if he makes runs early on). All the openers coming in are playing for their careers and with Uzzi it probably doesn’t make an ideal combo. Smith at least could give us a bit of that counter punch that Warner provides

 

[The Casey Cat]

Kick in the guts for openers around the country.

Not really. If one of them had really shown themselves to be up to it they would be in.

 

[troybe]

There it is

 

[Cuzz09]

Well now it's confirmed I hope Smith finds mojo and Green/Renshaw make plenty of runs the next decade.

Take your chances lads

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[the_interloper]

Well now it's confirmed I hope Smith finds mojo and Green/Renshaw make plenty of runs the next decade.

Take your chances lads

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

I think long term Renshaw should be the test opener personally, no one is belting the door down, he might be the best option available.

 

[Millky95]

View attachment 1884185

There it is

Renshaw for Warner
Boland to cover any of the quicks should they need a rest
Green to carry drinks or in any other of the top order can't play

 

[Around the Wicket]

Renshaw is a head scratcher..

 

[Around the Wicket]

I think long term Renshaw should be the test opener personally, no one is belting the door down, he might be the best option available.

Statistically he is the worst, flukes a hundred now and then, zero consistency, has 5 or 6 shield hundreds over 6 years while Bancroft and Harris are up near 15.

 

[Tugga27]

Renshaw is a head scratcher..

You seemed very confident Harris was going to be picked.

 

[Tugga27]

Renshaw for Warner
Boland to cover any of the quicks should they need a rest
Green to carry drinks or in any other of the top order can't play

Renshaw will be carrying the drinks I think.

 

[Cuzz09]

I'm not fussed who actually plays for Australia as long as they perform when selected.



On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Around the Wicket]

You seemed very confident Harris was going to be picked.

It all changed when Smith put his hand up imo.

 

[Millky95]

Renshaw will be carrying the drinks I think.

Green to 4 and Smith to open?

 

[the_interloper]

Statistically he is the worst, flukes a hundred now and then, zero consistency, has 5 or 6 shield hundreds over 6 years while Bancroft and Harris are up near 15.

On their average none of them should get a game really, which is why Smith has gone up to open.

 

[eddiesmith]

Bancroft finally realising you don’t tell the truth about the NSW bowlers!

 

[FreoRicci]

Bancroft getting punished for telling the truth..
Smith’s average is going to drop to 50. He hasn’t been a solid form at all. Opener? No thanks

 

[JimmyBC]

The WA chip on the shoulder is gonna get bigger lol