Comment from the English side, but I'd go total disruptor. Keep Smith and give him Marnus as his opening partner. Let them obsess over it together. They would love it and challenge each other. Move Usman to three. Freshen him up.
Last summer the feeling seemed to be that Smith proved himself as an opener when he carried his bat at Brisbane. Normally you'd reckon so, but I wasn't so sure. Most of that innings showed that Smith is a great Test batsman when he's settled, but we knew that already. After the second wicket fell it was situation normal; he was batting where he would have been anyway. His average for the season was buoyed entirely by that unbeaten (second innings) 91, which contributed more than half the runs he made in 8 innings. Perhaps a better index to his season is his first innings average (15) or the number of times he was first wicket to fall (6/7, every time but the 91). I think it's clear -- he's a great player, but he's wasted as an opening batsman. Put him back to 4, Green back to 6, and thank Mitch for a great job well done. Don't think about touching Travis Head -- he is this team's Doug Walters (or Stan McCabe) -- he may not always come off, but when he does he plays the innings nobody else can, and wins matches.
Certainly concerned that the wizard Bumrah may cause Smudge some problems this summer. Also don’t doubt that our boy have been receiving Wanga throw downs with balls that have had litres of mint laden saliva rubbed into one side. Will check out the JL pod over the weekend if my Australian spirit goes below an 8/10 at any moment.
I think, opening is a specialist job. So, better to have a seasoned opener opening father than a makeshift even if he is your best player. You won't take this chance in English conditions or in India where the conditions are more challenging for an opener.
England are doing the same mistake by having Dan Lawrence opening rather than Keaton Jennings or any specialist opener doing the job. I am not sure they can take this risk in the 2025 Ashes Downunder or maybe in Pakistan or India.
You need different skillset to play bowlers like Cummins, Starc, Hazelwood, Archer, Wood, Woakes, Shami, Bumrah
Could be we are looking at the fast decline of someone who was only a few years ago a batting genius. Sometimes it comes fast - like hitting a brick wall. I hope I’m wrong but doubt it.
Given the form he was in at the time, Smith was lucky the process wasn't
- find a specialist opener,
- replace Smith with Green.
Comment from the English side, but I'd go total disruptor. Keep Smith and give him Marnus as his opening partner. Let them obsess over it together. They would love it and challenge each other. Move Usman to three. Freshen him up.
Wow!
Smazball.
Last summer the feeling seemed to be that Smith proved himself as an opener when he carried his bat at Brisbane. Normally you'd reckon so, but I wasn't so sure. Most of that innings showed that Smith is a great Test batsman when he's settled, but we knew that already. After the second wicket fell it was situation normal; he was batting where he would have been anyway. His average for the season was buoyed entirely by that unbeaten (second innings) 91, which contributed more than half the runs he made in 8 innings. Perhaps a better index to his season is his first innings average (15) or the number of times he was first wicket to fall (6/7, every time but the 91). I think it's clear -- he's a great player, but he's wasted as an opening batsman. Put him back to 4, Green back to 6, and thank Mitch for a great job well done. Don't think about touching Travis Head -- he is this team's Doug Walters (or Stan McCabe) -- he may not always come off, but when he does he plays the innings nobody else can, and wins matches.
Reaching back a bit in time there!
Head
Usman
Marnus
Smith
Green
Marsh
Please can l have your autograpohs & newsleters
Certainly concerned that the wizard Bumrah may cause Smudge some problems this summer. Also don’t doubt that our boy have been receiving Wanga throw downs with balls that have had litres of mint laden saliva rubbed into one side. Will check out the JL pod over the weekend if my Australian spirit goes below an 8/10 at any moment.
I think, opening is a specialist job. So, better to have a seasoned opener opening father than a makeshift even if he is your best player. You won't take this chance in English conditions or in India where the conditions are more challenging for an opener.
England are doing the same mistake by having Dan Lawrence opening rather than Keaton Jennings or any specialist opener doing the job. I am not sure they can take this risk in the 2025 Ashes Downunder or maybe in Pakistan or India.
You need different skillset to play bowlers like Cummins, Starc, Hazelwood, Archer, Wood, Woakes, Shami, Bumrah
Could be we are looking at the fast decline of someone who was only a few years ago a batting genius. Sometimes it comes fast - like hitting a brick wall. I hope I’m wrong but doubt it.