Watched Smith bowling last night, took 3-fer although it was against the Windies who were poor. I thought Smith was a batter who bowled but the Aussies seem to use him the other way round.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/may/08/steve-smith-england-australia

This is your lad isnt it?

Yeah it is kim, looked quality last night, and is only 20!

Problem is Kim, he was signed for the T20 campaign but has now broken into the Aussie squad who tour England, so we think he might only play two or three matches. Good article which answers my question.

His leg-spin, which is flat and fast, has become something of a second suit. He scored four centuries in the Sheffield Shield last season, and finished sixth in the run-scoring list with 773 at an average of 73

he has been having regular net sessions with Shane Warne, working on "slowing my run-up down a little bit and getting my shoulder a bit higher. Test spinner Kerry O'Keeffe described Smith's action as "loose" and said he was "a batsman first and a bowler second".

That's interesting because although he bowled 'flat' his action is very similar to Warne.

At least you can afford a second T20 player! He looked good last night to me in a dull match enlivened only by Ravi Shastri's comment on Seulemann Benn's bowling. Theyd been discussing whether Benn bowled too flat or tossed the ball up. After Benn's next ball, Shastri prounounced:

" He's a tosser all right".

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/cricket/article7127213.ece

..well spotted!

That's Serchers idea of all the indoor facilities a cricketer needs!

It used to be good enough WBB ! Can't imagine a Botham rushing off for extra nets to fine tune that cover drive.

Several Geoff Boycott touring anecdotes abound about Sir Beef's approach to nets..late and then hitting straight out of the ground by coming down the net to the bowler as per a match! No attempt made to fine tune cover drives or clear up blips in batting action at all.

In fact, Boycott had such a furious encounter with Mike Brearley after a session like this that it was overheard- or should that be 'overheard' given that this was Oz and when England wintered in the sub-continent, Boycott played grade cricket in Melbourne instead and socialised well with reporters- by a journalist and stole the Aussie sports headlines, leaving Brearley temporarily in a very awkward situation.

When I was 18 in 1990 me and my best chum Paul decided to go see Worcs play Northants at Wantage Rd one Sunday.
I drove and we got there in good time, and settled down on the bench with a pork pie and a tin of Red Stripe apiece.

Well, Botham was playing that day, that was why Paul wanted to go, to see him. The Worcs players were warming up, netting and practising and what have you.
But no Botham, Paul turned to me and said 'Where's Beefy then? I thought you said he was playing'
I said 'He is, I dunno where he is'

10 minutes went by and still no Botham, until we heard a cheer behind us and people looking up onto the top of the pavilion where the away dressing room was.
We looked up and there he was, sitting back with what suspiciously looked like a pint in his hand.
We all started shouting for Beefy, so he put his socks on and came down and signed some autographs while his team mates warmed up

Wasn't he notorious for spending the day in the dressing room sending the Seconds lads- two of whom did very very well for themselves at New Road - down to the bookies with his naps from the Sporting Life? He was informally our first and only pro-vice captain for one year: what he lacked in nets he more than provided in support, man management and morale building...I mean, have you seen the new [football] World Cup Carlsberg ad??

This is it, not just on the field with Beefy, and I haven't seen the ad, think off to Youtube to check it out

There's a pub in Inkberrow called Red Lion (or Red Heart maybe ?) where all the players used to go for a social after matches. Maybe they still do, but if they do then I bet they just drink Oasis or coke & lemon !

Many moons ago I happened to pop in to the pub with the girl of that time only to come across the whole Worcs & Leics squad there. Had a chat with Gower and was really surprised that he was taller then me, maybe it was the hair ! Met Beefy there once too.

....... I'm going to start another thread as this reminds me of some stories.