Steve Smith

Like, 'cause you didn't collapse, you just kind of went down and then the cameras kind of panned away.

It was almost like, you remember when Steve Smith got hit by Jofra Archer in the 2019 Ashes-

Yeah.

Yeah

So they said that if all you players would accept these huge pay rises that they're offering, then the MOU would go away, and they wouldn't have to pay state players and, you know, those lower people anything pretty much anymore, or they'd have to pay them a pittance rather than what they actually get now, which is state contracts.

And for the ever-lasting good of Steve Smith and David Warner, who were the two main guys at the time that they went to, they both said no.

And in fact, David Warner was far harsher than that.

David Warner told them to go fuck themselves and said, "No, we want the MOU.

You know, Jackson Bird's come back for a couple of years.

Um, Jordan Silk has always played for the Sixers.

Does anyone think he's a massively big name? But how successful has he been as a player in the Big Bash for the Sydney Sixers? And what's their big name? Steve Smith.

When he's available, he comes back and scores a century every second time he bats.

He makes batting look easy.

He's a bit like Steve Smith.

I think he'll come into the side as a bits and pieces player but actually turn into a phenomenal batter.

And unfortunately, I'd be looking at that Bo Webster spot.

Just back to Marnus, George Bailey did not guarantee Marnus' spot at number three in the team, and they did talk about moving Smith to three.

Well, I don't think they talked about it.

Bailey pointed out that Steve Smith has been very successful at number three in the past.

Again, what are we doing here? What are we doing? What's working? Smith at four.

And it's the same with the WBBL with the big names and WBBL slightly different place.

It is of the highest, highest standard in women's cricket, men's cricket, big bash, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, two Aussie players.

Like Ben Stokes is going to be great this summer, but the Aussie players playing the big bash, that's what makes it hum.

I mean, Steve Smith and Mitch Stark, when they played last year, I mean, being a great example, the SCG was filled up, wasn't it? Yeah.

When that happened.

And that hasn't happened enough, right? And I mean, let's face it, like, you know, I have friends here in Adelaide, avid cricket fans, big BBL fans.

And even yesterday, George Bailey, when he was asked about it, he mentioned that Manus is the incumbent number three.

So there were hints that Steve Smith, they might have a chat with him to move to number three.

But that at the moment still feels like Only if a scenario, an SOS scenario, to be honest.

So in all likelihood, and I'm sure our text line will blow up and I'm about to say what I'm going to say, I think Manas Labushain might be batting at number three when we get to Kingsmeade and Durban.

So the only way Manas does, and now that they picked him in the squad, I don't know whether you can justify him being a reserve batter, right? Just the test form he's been in.

And the argument is, why aren't you taking anyone else if he's just a reserve batter? So what I mean by that is, now that they picked him in the squad, at least at the start of the series, you would think that they would want to have to play him.

And if it doesn't work out, then ideally the best solution is to somehow just incentivize No. 3 for Steve Smith and get him to bat No. 3.

Because if he does bat No. 3, this is in case Manas fails again in Durban.

Uh, do you want someone who you put so much faith in for so long and who you think is still probably could come good against, uh, that kind of bowling? Or do you just take a real punt on someone who probably hasn't been at that level before or hasn't been there for a long time? I think it comes down to that, but I still don't think there's any guarantee that he plays that Durban test.

I think the solution is right in front of them, is to basically call a board meeting, sit Steve Smith down, ask him what it'll take for him to bat at number three.

Because if he does that, I think there are enough middle order batters even within this squad that they can fill in and, you know, keep Marnus as a reserve.

But it all comes down to how they convince Steve Smith to do that.

So i- if they do that, Bharat, th- this will reinforce the mistake to me.

Mm.

Uh, because to take him as a reserve batter, you're saying that even though he averages, uh, what, only 17 in his last 10 test innings, or what, 24 since he's made his comeback last year in the Ashes, um, he's still amongst the best batters in the country to have in the squad.

And, and that's, that's your argument, right? And which is, which is a very valid argument.

Initially, they brought Josh Inglis into the top order.

Then Steve Smith came back.

Sam Constance was opening.

Cameron Green and Bo Webster both played together in that series.

He's on a very short leash now.

I mean, I think it's quite conceivable that if he, even if he does play in Durban in the first test, that if he fails there, he could be dropped.

And I think this possibility of Steve Smith moving up to three is a live option, potentially as a break-up glass in case of emergency.

Look, are they too invested in Marnus because they've given him a contract and they backed him in? Potentially.