whufc wrote:Great reward for persistence and never say die attitude
Much like Phil Hughes he brings a backyard technique to the game which is refreshing to see
Once again Steve Smith is following in the great dons footsteps
It is a shame WCP and TSG rarely if ever post in the cricket threads
WHUFC you mentioned backyard techniques, a fascinating read is a book called First Tests: Great Australian Cricketers and the Backyards That Made Them.
Quick overview of the book: Australia has dominated test cricket over the last 130 years. But it's not the formal cricket academies or high-end sports coaching that are responsible for the Australian cricket team's winning ways. The backyard has been the real academy of Australian cricket. Don Bradman's unique grip, stance and backlift all evolved in response to the pace at which the golf ball rebounded off the tank stand in his backyard games. Greg Chappell's unique flick off the hip shot came about because the leg side of his backyard wicket offered the best scoring opportunities. Alan Davidson bowled accurately because he had to: if he missed the stumps on his home-made pitch, he had to chase the ball down the hill into the scrub. Doug Walters played spin with ease because his ant-bed backyard pitch spun like a top. Neil Harvey's immaculate footwork came from playing balls darting off cobblestones in his back lane.
Nice, easy read for those who are interested