The best since Bradman...

[Bill]

Well done boyz !!

Paine is growing into the job, Id be inclined to keep him in place for the rest of the year and the summer test series.

Smith played his best cricket without the C beside his name

[bigfellascott]

Well done boyz !!

Paine is growing into the job, Id be inclined to keep him in place for the rest of the year and the summer test series.

Smith played his best cricket without the C beside his name

Bloody oath Bill, Steve seems to play better without the added pressure, I agree leave it as is.

[Stix]

Well done boyz !!

Paine is growing into the job, Id be inclined to keep him in place for the rest of the year and the summer test series.

Smith played his best cricket without the C beside his name

Bloody oath Bill, Steve seems to play better without the added pressure, I agree leave it as is.

Id have thought he'd felt plenty of pressure on return...
But then to think aboit it, probably far less pressure than playing & as a cheating captain...

[Bill]

Well Paine did something neither Ponting or Clarke was able to achieve so he should be given the gig a bit longer

[TassieTiger]

Well Paine did something neither Ponting or Clarke was able to achieve so he should be given the gig a bit longer

Given crickets heirach How much influence does a captain really have over a cricket teams performance ?

[bigfellascott]

Well done boyz !!

Paine is growing into the job, Id be inclined to keep him in place for the rest of the year and the summer test series.

Smith played his best cricket without the C beside his name

Bloody oath Bill, Steve seems to play better without the added pressure, I agree leave it as is.

Id have thought he'd felt plenty of pressure on return...
But then to think aboit it, probably far less pressure than playing & as a cheating captain...

Sounds like something a Pommie Loser would say.

[Stix]

Well done boyz !!

Paine is growing into the job, Id be inclined to keep him in place for the rest of the year and the summer test series.

Smith played his best cricket without the C beside his name

Bloody oath Bill, Steve seems to play better without the added pressure, I agree leave it as is.

Id have thought he'd felt plenty of pressure on return...
But then to think aboit it, probably far less pressure than playing & as a cheating captain...

Sounds like something a Pommie Loser would say.

& that sounds like something a "win at all & any costs" redneck would say...

My earlier point isnt said from a negative view point...
I say that because i think its true...

He would have done a lot of mental & physical exercise while being away...& returned with full support to just concentrate on cricket...

And look what happens--Steve Smith has demonstrated that when you can focus your skill on doing the right thing, instead of putting so much energy into doing the wrong thing...you end up with the same desired outcome, only in a more efficient & morraly sound way...

There's a pretty obvious message in that i think...for all walks of life...

[bigfellascott]

What performance gains were achieved with the other 2 cheats who would have gone through the same treatment? Steve Smith was always a brilliant player and probably always will be.

Smiths results aren't anything to do with some Pommie Theory, they are to do with him wanting to be the best he can be and get back to being the best he can be/was before all this rubbish started (they weren't the first to ball tamper trust me) it's something that's been going on for many many years going by all the others who have been busted doing it using all manner of things from (dirt in the pocket - Mike Atherton Pommie Capt at the time) Sth African Captain Faf du Plessis used a lollie in his ball tampering efforts, Sachin Tendulkar was accused of scuffing the seam of the ball, later found innocent, theres been incidents of zippers being used to scuff up the ball and god only knows how many other attempts have been made of the years to effect the way the ball plays when it comes to cricket, our mob were the latest and sure as s**t won't be the last trust me.

Cheers mate, enjoy the pint of bitter and bacon butty

[Stix]

I wassnt...& didnt suggest others had a performance gain...
Youre either suggesting stress factors & mental/emotional resillience has no factor in someones performance, or missing the point that, that is what im suggesting...or both...

Either way...im not argueing with you, against you, or anyone bigfella...i just made a comment...

Yes clearly they werent the first to attempt to cheat...they just happened to be the last, & if i may say so, the most stupid--i mean really...dirt in the pocket is atleast trying to conmceal it...but sand paper in the hand...FMD..im sure that will be added to a dictionary somewhere as a definition of "STUPID"...&.you sound like youre defending it as being above board because everyone else does it.. ...youre entitled to think what you want & i respect that...mate...

Smiths results--pommie theory...???...i dont know what your on about there...

And i should add, i make the best bacon sanga's...you dont know it but you wish you could have one...or threee..!!--aint nothin wrong with a good feed of bacon n eggs in fried bread over the flaming coals of mallee roots after a morning stroll with the shottie...or a pint or 3 while chomping on charcoal grilled kill rigging up the spotty for a night of foxing..so i most certainly will enjoy my pint of bitter and bacon butty.

Oh...& for the record if you're suggesting im a pom because you interpret a point of discussion as "whinging"... i should point out my heritage is haggis...yep...bending romans over for thousands of years, & wandering the highlands with only a skirt on the bottom half...& i must still have it in me cos i still wear short shorts for work outside every single day of the year & continually answer "NO" to the same people with the question of "arent you cold"......

Enjoy the cricket