Message Board Archives

How can a man walk across the wicket almost each delivery and still make batting look more easy than any current WestIndian?

The answer is simple... Practice.

There isn't a man on earth who can convince me that WI batsmen practice their craft like they should.

Footballers have two, sometimes three, 2-3 hour sessions daily. I doubt WI batsmen spend more than and hour at practice each day.

The lack of consistency, lack of focus and poor technique to do something as simple as defend their wicket is telling.

We need to start paying these guys base on their, and team's performance! There's no way you can consistently fail at your job and be compensated fully. We are basically paying these guys to lose, and they're gladly accepting it.

This must stop!!! Any CWI president who puts this as an urgent change that's has to be implemented has my full support.

In reply to Gun_Play

hoss smith does not make the game look easy. he makes it look ugly and ungainly. that being said, he finds a way to make runs. few people would pay to watch him bat 5overs but his contribution is invaluable to his side's cause

In reply to Jumpstart

Smith, like Shiv, would rather lose a limb than give his wicket away.

In reply to SnoopDog

exactly....cricket is a hard game and i would never criticize a dude for finding a way to make runs

In reply to Gun_Play

As you said poor technique does contribute to poor batting as well as batting with an experienced person at the other end to have a match situation.

Supreme confidence in his ability.

In reply to Gun_Play I would simply concur with, bang on!

In reply to Jumpstart


When you consistently walk across to off stump and play the ball through mid wicket, that's not easy.

It takes skill to play across deliveries like that. WI batsmen can't even hit the ball while they're not moving, their feet don't move.

In reply to tc1

Poor technique is a factor but...

Smith has poor or 'unconventional' technique as well.

The difference is he clearly has mastered his craft. He knows what delivers to play and what not to play.

He concentrates and only plays the ball when it's in his areas. You rarely see him drive on up through covers or cut behind point.

He's mentally disciplined and that come from practice. WI players do not practice, they haven't even mastered defending their stumps!

Just standing and defending your stumps, trying to keep the ball along the ground would be a problem for WI batsmen. That's something we did when we were young. Being dismissed on 'first hop/one bounce' was a good way guys learnt how to defend and keep the ball down.