Dwayne Smith

[Langeveldt]

Id like to hear some opinions...

He has created some excitement, but I am yet to be convinced...

 

[masterblaster]

Certainly very talented, could go a long way...

His FC record isnt all too good however, and he might be a one season sparkler.

Hopefully for the West Indies cause, they can spring up another youth sensation.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Gut feelings:

Good eye, hits it well, nothing more I don't think.

Likely to crash and burn when the ball starts moving around.

 

[Craig]

A decent medium pacer and could be helpful in seaming conditions.

 

[Richard]

Scored about the worst chanceless century I've ever seen on his Test debut.
Practically every shot in the air.
Kallis especially had understandible delight on dismissing him in the first-innings of The Fourth Test. And it was understandible because it really is quite outrageous that Smith managed to last as long as he did playing like he did.
How he manages to miss the fielders as often as he does I don't know - the same clearly has not happened in domestic First-Class cricket.
Hence I don't see how it's likely to happen for a lengthy period in Test-matches. If it does continue he's going to be one of the best players in the game's history.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I said it before his debut and I stand by it now. Dwayne Smith is not a Test standard batsman.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

A decent medium pacer and could be helpful in seaming conditions.

Agreed. Was underused by Lara IMO.

 

[marc71178]

Scored about the worst chanceless century I've ever seen on his Test debut.

How can you have degrees of chancelessness?

 

[Prince EWS]

How can you have degrees of chancelessness?

He was saying the innings was bad, not the chancelessness of it.

 

[twctopcat]

Still can't argue with a century on debut.There were quite a few wild ones i agree, but alot of pure ones also. You do get that coming up against the south african bowling attack however, they're no mugs to say the least.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

That six over cover was amazing.

 

[Langeveldt]

Scored about the worst chanceless century I've ever seen on his Test debut.
Practically every shot in the air.
Kallis especially had understandible delight on dismissing him in the first-innings of The Fourth Test. And it was understandible because it really is quite outrageous that Smith managed to last as long as he did playing like he did.
How he manages to miss the fielders as often as he does I don't know - the same clearly has not happened in domestic First-Class cricket.
Hence I don't see how it's likely to happen for a lengthy period in Test-matches. If it does continue he's going to be one of the best players in the game's history.

Thats basically what I wanted to say, but didnt in case I got shot down... Thanks..

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

The reason why Dwayne Smith plays the way he does is quite unorthodox to say the least. The club that he plays for in Barbados (same one Sherwin Campbell came from I believe) has such short boundaries that to hit a four, you have to hit a six.

 

[Langeveldt]

Must be short!!

However ive hit a couple of fours with flourished forward defensive strokes at grounds down here... Not ideal breeding ground for international cricketers though...

 

[Craig]

That six over cover was amazing.

As Ian Bishop said: "A typical West Indian square drive for six".

 

[Richard]

Must be short!!

However ive hit a couple of fours with flourished forward defensive strokes at grounds down here... Not ideal breeding ground for international cricketers though...

Some of the "grounds" in England are, quite simply, a disgrace.
Many grounds I play on are not fit for cricket of any sort (and I'm about the lowest of the low...) and some county grounds, both major and out grounds (Taunton and Abergavenney spring first to mind) are not fit for top-level cricket.
It's as ludicrous as the paucity of sightscreens. Some of the grounds I play at have better sightscreens than international grounds in Australia. And how much does a decent sighscreen cost? Most tallish bowlers can get an arm over almost any screen anywhere, and going wide of the crease can get it out, too.

 

[Craig]

So Taunton is ideal for Club cricket?

 

[Richard]

I've played there once and if you ask me it was above-standard for third-XI cricket.
Probably perfect for first-XI and county second-XI cricket.