I thought I would just whip this one up as I prepare to settle in for Sri Lanka's innings (which will inevitable be sacrificed for Man U v Arsenal). Let me just start by saying- another fantastic knock by AB de Villiers! This time he gets his century, so any sleep that he may have lost from the nervous nineties of the previous ODI have been put to rest! Despite playing through an injury towards the end that was clearly causing him discomfort, he ignored it and played to his strengths, with a tasteful combination of stand and delivers and scoops to fine leg. Fantastic captain's effort!
As for Smith, if there was ever a time to score a century, it was now. 16 months and 36 ODI's without one, and one game left in this series. A poor performance, and surely the selectors would have to give in to media negativity and logic. But this knock of 125, albeit a bit sluggish at times, has given Smith another chance to show what he's capable of. He's repaid the trust of the selectors, the faith of his team mates and his own self-doubt I dare say, with a knock that has carried the Proteas past the 300 mark, and they now look strong to wrap up the series with a 4-1 victory. He will undoubtedly be selected for the next ODI squad to play New Zealand, but this may frustrate the significant contingent who watched despairingly as Smith got his century, hoping that another fail with the bat will lead to the chop. Watch this space to see if the bowling attack can recover from what as an abysmal display in the last ODI. All eyes on Morne Morkel now. He needs wickets.
As for Smith, if there was ever a time to score a century, it was now. 16 months and 36 ODI's without one, and one game left in this series. A poor performance, and surely the selectors would have to give in to media negativity and logic. But this knock of 125, albeit a bit sluggish at times, has given Smith another chance to show what he's capable of. He's repaid the trust of the selectors, the faith of his team mates and his own self-doubt I dare say, with a knock that has carried the Proteas past the 300 mark, and they now look strong to wrap up the series with a 4-1 victory. He will undoubtedly be selected for the next ODI squad to play New Zealand, but this may frustrate the significant contingent who watched despairingly as Smith got his century, hoping that another fail with the bat will lead to the chop. Watch this space to see if the bowling attack can recover from what as an abysmal display in the last ODI. All eyes on Morne Morkel now. He needs wickets.
Smith has definitely had his critics over the past few years, myself included. Although he scored 60 odd in the 4th ODI and a brilliant 125 yesterday...one could argue that the pressure of winning the series was gone. With SA 3-0 after the first three games 'gone', Kirsten was allowed to rest key players in preparation for the up-and-coming tour of NZ and ENG. With the pressure of still needing to wrap a series, Smith was given ANOTHER chance to find form. Not taking anything away from his last two performances, but I think with the pressure on, Smith might not have scored the runs that he did. Yes, he has a lot of experience, but SA team is not the youngest team around! Some have suggested that Smith is only in the team because he is good friends with the coach. Could Kirsten's 'faith' in the former captain in this 'non-pressure' situation be a way for Smith to in a way justify his inclusion in the squad?
ReplyDeleteIt's true that it wasn't under a pressure situation, so I'm sitting on the fence a bit as to whether he deserves a place in the next squad. Part of me tells me that he should, because the desire and capability is there to score runs, and although it wasn't a pressure situation for South Africa, it was for him. Then part of me is saying that he shouldn't, because the only reason he's stayed in the team this long is his stats, and the faith of the back room staff. His absence could also give an opportunity to young openers such as Richard Levi, as Kirsten and de Villiers work towards the next World Cup.
ReplyDeleteI see your point as well. And you are probably right that his stats have kept him in the team until now. I used to like Smith, but his actions after the world cup changed my opinion of him. So although my opinion might be biased, if he stats in the teams, he definitively needs to up his game in the next series.
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