Marnus and Smith

[halba]

Definitely out of form now. Way off their prime level. Have they been found out? In India they were terrible.
Cant win Ashes with two best bats way out of form.

 

[Daemon]

Smith literally tonned up last game.

But yes their output has dropped of late.

 

[halba]

Smith literally tonned up last game.

But yes their output has dropped of late.

Yep noted, but generally trending down. Marnus definitely dropping. Smith was poor in the India series. The WTC - India have a weak pace attack for these conditions

 

[loterry1994]

Smith been going alright. Marnus just hasn’t been tested enough away from home and has got to prove himself still in my opinion to be a top 5 batter.

 

[Spark]

Smith didn't look great in this game - his movements seemed out of sync, he didn't have any timing and both his dismissals he got in a total tangle - but he'll be fine. I'm more concerned about Marnus.

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

What sort of timeline would you consider as worrying form ?

 

[Molehill]

I wouldn't be so worried about the latest Smith dismissal, he got a good over from Broad, it happens. But his 3 dismissals in County Cricket and in the first innings here were all lbw. That suggests something is wrong somewhere.

England have got Marnus fishing at things he shouldn't, I think he will rectify that unless they've got into his head.

 

[Burgey]

What sort of timeline would you consider as worrying form ?

It varies, but everyone has been saying Smith has been trash for ages by his standards, yet he still averaged 50 across the WTC two year window and made a ton last week. It says a bit about his standards.

 

[halba]

What sort of timeline would you consider as worrying form ?

Marnus is already in a spot of bother starting with the India series to now. Hasnt gotten going at all- no major knocks of any note.

Smith was extremely poor in the India series- barely made any runs, and WTC was good against a very ordinary attack in the Indians. Here, Smith against Eng and also in county cricket he has been getting exposed. Perhaps Father time has come for Smith - he's 34. Father time hits all sportsmen eventually- everyone has their time. We have seen this 'father time' with Virat Kohli recently- another member of the 'fab four' - Kohli has been very average in Tests for many years.

 

[sledger]

You can't trust someone called Marnus can you. I mean really. Sounds like a growth you'd get on your foot.

 

[social]

Definitely out of form now. Way off their prime level. Have they been found out? In India they were terrible.
Cant win Ashes with two best bats way out of form.

Good news is that England’s top 3 are in form

Bad news is that they’re ****

 

[chris.hinton]

Good news is that England’s top 3 are in form

Bad news is that they’re ****

But they are young and improving

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

Marnus is already in a spot of bother starting with the India series to now. Hasnt gotten going at all- no major knocks of any note.

Smith was extremely poor in the India series- barely made any runs, and WTC was good against a very ordinary attack in the Indians. Here, Smith against Eng and also in county cricket he has been getting exposed. Perhaps Father time has come for Smith - he's 34. Father time hits all sportsmen eventually- everyone has their time. We have seen this 'father time' with Virat Kohli recently- another member of the 'fab four' - Kohli has been very average in Tests for many years.

Okay but we can agree that Kohli's slump is incomparable to Steven Smith ..Virat Kohli went nearly 3 and a half years without a Test hundred , Smith scored a Test hundred 1 Test match ago ..

 

[Ashes81]

I'd be very surprised if both Smith and Labuschagne don't go on to have a good series.

Thay may not average in the 60s as they often do, but they're too good not to score more than their fair share of runs.