The lonely death throes of an elite batsman. Moving to opening the batting was clearly the denial stage. Now anger at umpires who have the temerity to give him (palpably) out or commentators who question his form, motivations or reflexes. Moving back down the order is bargaining with the cricket gods (selectors). Depression comes with a season of failures and sulks. Acceptance will be accepting a Channel 7/Fox commentary position.
Good to see a Shield game with some front-line players available.
Not that you'd know it's on, necessarily. Driving home from the gym on Sunday afternoon, I turned on ABC Grandstand in the hope of hearing some Shield commentary, or at least a score. Instead I got 15 minutes of someone called "Leemo" talking about himself incessantly. It's as though whoever produces this bilge took him aside and said, "Leemo, mate, no one cares about the sport. What they've tuned in for is more of your fascinating personality." Did you know that Leemo's son's basketball team got beaten 78-2? Not only that, but Leemo's dad saw Bradman bat once, only he got a duck, except Keith Miller got a hundred, so that was OK. Leemo's dad loved Keith Miller. Geez, did you know Leemo was an accountant for ten years? Ten years! Can you believe that? Do you want a cricket score? Try somewhere else - this is a sports show, nerd.
It’s funny how nobody wants to “own” the decision of Smith opening the batting or admit it was a failed and in hindsight, a pretty dumb move. Whose idea actually was it ? Joe the cameraman ?
It's been an interesting round of Shield cricket. A number of the expected haven't performed (Marnus - put the pies away even if s**t gets wickets), and some of the top contenders haven't either. Carey's ton (currently still in red) is one of the few stand outs for batters this round.
On a side note - how good is it that Foxtel is actually showing Shield cricket live? I know it won't last an hour on Day 4 (I hope they switch to the Qld/SA game afterwards).
But I can't argue with your views thus far. The water to wine line was brilliant!
Pete, thought on someone like Inglis playing as a batsman with Marnus opening. Had a brilliant year, is an exceptional player of spin, and started off with two tons
Neser and Abbott seem to fit in as ‘bowling all-rounder’ more so than ‘batting all rounder’ - they strike as more sensibly coming in 7-9 in the order as opposed to 4-6
I see now Davey Warner has entered proceedings with “an alternate take” as well …..
“I’m always available, just got to pick up the phone,” Warner announced. Well ….. FMD, talk about how not to read the room !
I very much enjoyed Peter’s description of this on Gerard Whateley’s show on SEN today - “This is a drive by shooting by a bloke in a clown car” - made me chuckle. Classic.
I’m not sure why the fuss about who said what in the Smith to #4 move. It sounds to me like a normal conversation that team members, captains, and batters may have. So what if it is different to what was said/thought last year. People are allowed to change their minds if the circumstances change. I’d suggest we’d prefer them to be open to change as required. And I’m enjoying the openness of the discussion to get a feel for what is being considered.
No. 4 is the ideal slot for a batter of Smith’s calibre. Opening is often a lottery, with the chance of your number rolling before getting attuned to the game’s rhythm. Whether it’s 2-20 or 2-200, a good No.4 can adjust his approach accordingly, as Smith has proven abundantly.
POOR OF ME to not mention Nic Maddinson in this piece. He is also there-and-abouts
The lonely death throes of an elite batsman. Moving to opening the batting was clearly the denial stage. Now anger at umpires who have the temerity to give him (palpably) out or commentators who question his form, motivations or reflexes. Moving back down the order is bargaining with the cricket gods (selectors). Depression comes with a season of failures and sulks. Acceptance will be accepting a Channel 7/Fox commentary position.
Very good, Peter
Good to see a Shield game with some front-line players available.
Not that you'd know it's on, necessarily. Driving home from the gym on Sunday afternoon, I turned on ABC Grandstand in the hope of hearing some Shield commentary, or at least a score. Instead I got 15 minutes of someone called "Leemo" talking about himself incessantly. It's as though whoever produces this bilge took him aside and said, "Leemo, mate, no one cares about the sport. What they've tuned in for is more of your fascinating personality." Did you know that Leemo's son's basketball team got beaten 78-2? Not only that, but Leemo's dad saw Bradman bat once, only he got a duck, except Keith Miller got a hundred, so that was OK. Leemo's dad loved Keith Miller. Geez, did you know Leemo was an accountant for ten years? Ten years! Can you believe that? Do you want a cricket score? Try somewhere else - this is a sports show, nerd.
It’s funny how nobody wants to “own” the decision of Smith opening the batting or admit it was a failed and in hindsight, a pretty dumb move. Whose idea actually was it ? Joe the cameraman ?
It's been an interesting round of Shield cricket. A number of the expected haven't performed (Marnus - put the pies away even if s**t gets wickets), and some of the top contenders haven't either. Carey's ton (currently still in red) is one of the few stand outs for batters this round.
On a side note - how good is it that Foxtel is actually showing Shield cricket live? I know it won't last an hour on Day 4 (I hope they switch to the Qld/SA game afterwards).
But I can't argue with your views thus far. The water to wine line was brilliant!
Pete, thought on someone like Inglis playing as a batsman with Marnus opening. Had a brilliant year, is an exceptional player of spin, and started off with two tons
Neser and Abbott seem to fit in as ‘bowling all-rounder’ more so than ‘batting all rounder’ - they strike as more sensibly coming in 7-9 in the order as opposed to 4-6
I see now Davey Warner has entered proceedings with “an alternate take” as well …..
“I’m always available, just got to pick up the phone,” Warner announced. Well ….. FMD, talk about how not to read the room !
I very much enjoyed Peter’s description of this on Gerard Whateley’s show on SEN today - “This is a drive by shooting by a bloke in a clown car” - made me chuckle. Classic.
Marnus appears to be getting a decent bowl as skipper?!
I’m not sure why the fuss about who said what in the Smith to #4 move. It sounds to me like a normal conversation that team members, captains, and batters may have. So what if it is different to what was said/thought last year. People are allowed to change their minds if the circumstances change. I’d suggest we’d prefer them to be open to change as required. And I’m enjoying the openness of the discussion to get a feel for what is being considered.
No. 4 is the ideal slot for a batter of Smith’s calibre. Opening is often a lottery, with the chance of your number rolling before getting attuned to the game’s rhythm. Whether it’s 2-20 or 2-200, a good No.4 can adjust his approach accordingly, as Smith has proven abundantly.