You can IMO criticise but there comes a point where you have to understand the pressure and intensity of a major sporting match and you can't just say as PF say'd "I'm going to hit this ball for 6".It not as simple and easy for one to play by instinct and try and whack every ball out of the park.
Kallis showed virtually no intent to hit boundaries when the team desperately needed them. That deserves strong criticism because he has shown in the past he can up the pace.
Couldn't agree more. Whilst his selfish attitude and greed for runs works for SA in test matches, he is SA's achilles heel in ODI's. I've seen him do this many times before.
That is why he waltzed down the track and got out for 48. If he was so consumed by his average and runs don’t you think he would have got the other two runs first?
A bit harsh for mine. It could be that the South African management want him to anchor while the rest of them attack. Either way, I don`t think it`s the best solution.
at this post.
Totally. Smith is my least favourite player in world cricket, but like Ponting, he seems to get crapped on 90% of the time when he doesn't deserve it. McGrath got **** on in similar circumstances when he predicted a 5-0, but what is he supposed to do? Every player should always go out with the firm belief that they can and will win and for Smith to be honest about that in the media is really something that shouldn't be ridiculed. And I would be 10 times more concerned if a captain said "Hmm, we might win, we'll give it our best chance", that's be poor form on their parts.
He was good, but it wasn't one of his best performances. He didn't do much with the new ball (though not many people did), and when he came back into the attack Australia were right back in the game, and he pretty much ended the contest with a few tight overs, then came back again for two wickets with the tail.
Its the English mentality... Supposedly you have to accept defeat and cricketers who talk themselves up like Smith, McGrath and KP are frowned upon because in England you are expected to be subservient and subsequently mediocre. No point playing the game if you don't expect to win and the only times it gets annoying is when you are as **** as Paul Nixon.
Totally agree with this assessment, Kallis may have played some elegant shots but he somehow thought they were chasing 270
Smith has a surprisingly good record against Australia (in ODI) but like Hayden given a flat track you are on a hiding for nothing and what is pretty impressive is that is off side game has improved (was non-existent six months ago).One the point of Graeme Smith, how good did he look last night?
Edit: Batting wise, I promise
Firstly NZ are my side not SA and secondly i'd never doubt Kallis is a classy & talented cricketer. Maybe i'm off the mark for saying it, but from what i've seen of him over the years I get the distinct impression he plays for Jacque Kallis first and foremost, and i don't think this attitude always helps SA in onedayers, especially chasing large scores.
You don't realise how lucky you are to have a player as good as Jacque in your side. I would give my right arm to have Kallis in the England ODI side. I can think that the only ODI side in the world he might have trouble getting into is the Australian one.
Yeah, that is how it usually happens. One team plays poorer than the other, and eventually loses.
If you had actually bothered to read the context of the post, rather than making some smug, self satisfied comment, you would have realised that it was in repsonse to another users post.
I did read the context, which still makes your statement look unnecessary.
