5 Reasons Why Steve Smith Will Debut Against New Zealand
kirby March 16, 2010
Tags australia, leg spin, new zealand, steve smith, test debut
When the Australian Test squad for the tour of New Zealand was announced last week, one reasonably surprising inclusion was 20-year-old New South Wales leggie Steve Smith. On first glance, it may seem his inclusion is only ceremonial, but I believe that he will play in the first Test against New Zealand starting on Friday, and these are the five reasons why.
1. The Kid's In Form
Smith was recently named the Steve Waugh medallist for the 2009/10 season (NSW player of the year), unsurprising due to the rich vein of form he's struck this season. In this year's Sheffield Shield competition, he's hit 772 runs at 77.2 and snared 21 wickets at the slightly unflattering average of 44.38. But it's his most recent performances that have been fantastic: scoring hundreds in his last two Shield games, and adding a career best 7/64 to the most recent match against South Australia. His leggies are by far the biggest factor for his selection, and if he hadn't taken 7 wickets in his last outing we wouldn't be having this discussion. But he did, and we are.
2. Warnie Done Good
Perhaps Smith's biggest influence has been the greatest spinner of all time, Shane Warne. Since Smith was called in as emergency cover for fellow tweaker Nathan Hauritz in the leadup to last year's Boxing Day Test, Warne has taken Smith under his wing and halved his bowling average. There could be nothing better as a young spinner when you find one of the most influential cricketing personalities in the world sitting in your corner; not only has Warne sorted out some slight technical issues for Smith, but his support has seen Smith's self-confidence skyrocket since the New Year.
3. The Selectors Want Two Spinners
When quizzed about Smith's inclusion in the Test squad, Chairman of Selectors Andrew Hilditch answered that Smith's batting is secondary to the luxury he will afford Ricky Ponting if picked: the Australians will be playing two genuine spinners. There was no "He's just along for the ride" answer (a la Jon Holland on last year's one-day tour of India), which is a very strong indicator of the selectors willing to put faith in one of Australian cricket's most exciting prospects.
Ricky Ponting, too, has defended the decision to not include Smith in the one-day squad for the recently concluded Chappell-Hadlee series, saying "That's half the reason we didn't actually add him to the one-day squad... It was for him to get a bit more experience at first-class level back home and hoping he'd do what he has done. He has done everything right to give himself the best chance of playing". Reading between the lines, these comments by the Chairman of Selectors and the Australian captain are pointing to Smith getting his Baggy Green on Friday.
4. The Kiwis Can't Play Leg-spin
Warnie can attest to this, and that was during the era when the Black Caps had a strong batting lineup (Fleming, Astle, etc.). To put it simply, leg-spin is one art that most Test teams have trouble with, and the current Kiwi side is no exception (see Danish Kaneria's performance on green wickets in the New Zealander's most recent series).
The Kiwi selectors seem to have placed a large bet against their team for the upcoming first Test, further weakening an already fragile batting order, with skipper Dan Vettori to bat at 6. Vettori's promotion is aimed to give the Kiwis every chance of taking 20 wickets by playing an extra bowler, but seems to be at the expense of batting strength. What better way to get Smith into the fold than to give him a debut in a situation where his ego is not likely to be permanently dented.
5. He's Got Time On His Side
There can be no better feeling as a selector than when you give a youngster his first Test and subsequently see him rise to the occasion. Smith could be such a youngster, and seeing him develop into a top-class player while playing for the Australian side will undoubtedly be a major drawcard for the selectors at a time when they are looking towards the younger portion of the Australian domestic scene for future players. And by getting him into the Test fold as soon as possibly could reduce the likelihood of him running off and joining the circus (IPL).
1. The Kid's In Form
Smith was recently named the Steve Waugh medallist for the 2009/10 season (NSW player of the year), unsurprising due to the rich vein of form he's struck this season. In this year's Sheffield Shield competition, he's hit 772 runs at 77.2 and snared 21 wickets at the slightly unflattering average of 44.38. But it's his most recent performances that have been fantastic: scoring hundreds in his last two Shield games, and adding a career best 7/64 to the most recent match against South Australia. His leggies are by far the biggest factor for his selection, and if he hadn't taken 7 wickets in his last outing we wouldn't be having this discussion. But he did, and we are.
2. Warnie Done Good
Perhaps Smith's biggest influence has been the greatest spinner of all time, Shane Warne. Since Smith was called in as emergency cover for fellow tweaker Nathan Hauritz in the leadup to last year's Boxing Day Test, Warne has taken Smith under his wing and halved his bowling average. There could be nothing better as a young spinner when you find one of the most influential cricketing personalities in the world sitting in your corner; not only has Warne sorted out some slight technical issues for Smith, but his support has seen Smith's self-confidence skyrocket since the New Year.
3. The Selectors Want Two Spinners
When quizzed about Smith's inclusion in the Test squad, Chairman of Selectors Andrew Hilditch answered that Smith's batting is secondary to the luxury he will afford Ricky Ponting if picked: the Australians will be playing two genuine spinners. There was no "He's just along for the ride" answer (a la Jon Holland on last year's one-day tour of India), which is a very strong indicator of the selectors willing to put faith in one of Australian cricket's most exciting prospects.
Ricky Ponting, too, has defended the decision to not include Smith in the one-day squad for the recently concluded Chappell-Hadlee series, saying "That's half the reason we didn't actually add him to the one-day squad... It was for him to get a bit more experience at first-class level back home and hoping he'd do what he has done. He has done everything right to give himself the best chance of playing". Reading between the lines, these comments by the Chairman of Selectors and the Australian captain are pointing to Smith getting his Baggy Green on Friday.
4. The Kiwis Can't Play Leg-spin
Warnie can attest to this, and that was during the era when the Black Caps had a strong batting lineup (Fleming, Astle, etc.). To put it simply, leg-spin is one art that most Test teams have trouble with, and the current Kiwi side is no exception (see Danish Kaneria's performance on green wickets in the New Zealander's most recent series).
The Kiwi selectors seem to have placed a large bet against their team for the upcoming first Test, further weakening an already fragile batting order, with skipper Dan Vettori to bat at 6. Vettori's promotion is aimed to give the Kiwis every chance of taking 20 wickets by playing an extra bowler, but seems to be at the expense of batting strength. What better way to get Smith into the fold than to give him a debut in a situation where his ego is not likely to be permanently dented.
5. He's Got Time On His Side
There can be no better feeling as a selector than when you give a youngster his first Test and subsequently see him rise to the occasion. Smith could be such a youngster, and seeing him develop into a top-class player while playing for the Australian side will undoubtedly be a major drawcard for the selectors at a time when they are looking towards the younger portion of the Australian domestic scene for future players. And by getting him into the Test fold as soon as possibly could reduce the likelihood of him running off and joining the circus (IPL).
but yeah he also has leadership qualities and iz caaaaappppppppttttaaaaaiinnn of an UNNBHEEATTAAABLEE VVVIICCCTTTOOOOORIIIIIAA SSSSIIIIIIDDDDDDEEEEEEE aaaaat tttthhhheeee mmooomeeenttt
