[PICTURE] Steve Smith's amazing stance against Wahab Riaz

[Saj]

Amazing to watch, but why didn't Wahab just target the stumps.

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[Haroon786]

Seen AB do the same.

 

[mmkextreme_1]

This is where you can tell the mentality of our bowlers. Any decent minded bowler would have aimed for the stumps.

 

[Haroon786]

Smith is the best batsman in the world.

 

[Madplayer]

Brainless from wahab. Nothing great about the shot. Just brain fade from wahab. Why on earth wont you bowl fast at the stumps???? He actually did what smith wanted him to.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

There was no way that Smith could have even touched a 140 kph fulltoss on stumps from that position.


It was a poor ball from Wahab.


He tried to follow the batsman rather than following the stumps.


That should have been a gifted 3rd wicket instead it cost us 4 runs.

 

[Indiafan]

There is no way Smith would have been able to reach if Wahab had bowled on the stumps, leg side reach of batsmen is very limited. But these are mind games

 

[Enigma_]

Wahab should've hit the stumps.

 

[IAJ]

Smith is the best batsman in the world.

So you should just follow him and forget the stumps?

 

[Hawkeye]

Batted far better than Root or Kane could have.

For me, he has again topped the list as the best batsman across all 3 formats.

Tough competition between him, Root and Kane - Kohli too is not far away.

 

[*syed59*]

We didn't got him out , like we usually can't get wickets of reasonably good batsmen who play with a little more sense than other batsmen. But hey we have world class bowling so..

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Seen AB do the same.

Smith is the best batsman in the world.

AB doesn't do that.

He offsets the bowler but just before the bowler is about to deliver the ball he gets in line with the stumps.


Doing such is just asking for trouble. Wahab has to blamed. A yorker or even a fulltoss would have been a wicket instead it cost the team 4.


Wahab's failure is Smith's joy.

 

[Ab Fan]

Smith was so far from the stumps.Even he would have thought he made a mistake going too far but luckily plays an out of the box shot and gets the maximum result.

 

[Centurion]

Wahab should've used his common sense and aimed at the stumps. The chance of Smith making contact from that position was practically nil. Shows Wahab's poor cricketing nous.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Batted far better than Root or Kane could have.

For me, he has again topped the list as the best batsman across all 3 formats.

Tough competition between him, Root and Kane - Kohli too is not far away.

Joe Root is way ahead of Smith in Odi and T20 cricket.


Joe Root is a more Impact player than Williamson in Odi cricket.



Overall Williamson is edging Root & Smith if we consider all formats.

 

[aniket1911]

If you watch the replay. Smith shifted a bit and it prompted wahab to follow him but then smith shifted even more.

A normal any kind of ball would have uprooted his stumps if he kept his line onto the stumps.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Infact i would go as far as saying it was very poor tactics by smith, almost brainless attempt. But wahab proved to be even more brainless.

Yes I agree with you. There was nothing special about that in fact it was very poor and yes Wahab was more brainless.

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[wasim-fan]

I though he will bowl a slow leg cutter outside leg or leg stump. That way even Smith connected he wouldn't have got the power in the shot.

 

[aniket1911]

Had he bowled a ball on the stumps.
We all would have been laughing at Smith right now.

 

[Haroon786]

AB doesn't do that.

He offsets the bowler but just before the bowler is about to deliver the ball he gets in line with the stumps.


Doing such is just asking for trouble. Wahab has to blamed. A yorker or even a fulltoss would have been a wicket instead it cost the team 4.


Wahab's failure is Smith's joy.

I've seen AB do that.

 

[Haroon786]

So you should just follow him and forget the stumps?

Was a general statement.

Wahab being clueless is almost normal proceedings.

 

[Zohaib Shah]

So you should just follow him and forget the stumps?

If any of our batsmen can follow in his footsteps we will be a better team.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Purely instinctive.

Amazing how a lot of fans think they know better. The bowler has less than a fraction of a second to make adjustments regarding where he intended the ball to go.

 

[The Last Of The Stars]

Brainless delivery by Wahab.

 

[Bewal Express]

Weirdest stance ever followed by some of the dumbest bowling ever. It takes a special (lack of ) intelligence to bowl that ball.

 

[Mamoon]

Root is better than Smith.

 

[inam_1]

Shoaib akhtar was laughing at wahab in the break. He was like you only follow when the batsmen goes back in the other direcrion as his arms are not open but when he moves like this you target stumps. They laugh and smile on his face was amazing

 

[CricFan2012]

Root is better than Smith.

Root > Kane > Kholi and Smith

Root has been amazing everywhere he's played and has racked up big scores, Kane has as well but me thinks he's been slower than root.

Kholi has sucked in English conditions but thrived elsewhere and smith is just on a purple patch, overrated batsman.

 

[Lords]

Smith just manhandled wahab and made him dance on his tunes

 

[Mamoon]

Root > Kane > Kholi and Smith

Root has been amazing everywhere he's played and has racked up big scores, Kane has as well but me thinks he's been slower than root.

Kholi has sucked in English conditions but thrived elsewhere and smith is just on a purple patch, overrated batsman.

Smith is a world class batsman. Purple patch doesn't last for 3 years.

Kohli, Smith, Williamson and Root are all world class, but I think Kohli and Root are the best of the lot.

 

[JaDed]

I remember a guy from my school who used to do that he used to keep moving to confuse the bowler but all good bowlers could get him out,the brainless ones bowled wide.

 

[Aman]

Smith is the best batsman in the world.

Nowhere near it in LOI's

 

[Aman]

Weirdest stance ever followed by some of the dumbest bowling ever. It takes a special (lack of ) intelligence to bowl that ball.

No chance Smith gets his bat to a delivery at the stumps.

Had Wahab made the logical decision of going for the stumps, this would be talked about for other reasons.

 

[Finisher]

This is where Pakistan lost the match

 

[pasha404]

Brainless and we call them we have world class bowling.all our bowlers today were off color

 

[Aman]

Batted far better than Root or Kane could have.

For me, he has again topped the list as the best batsman across all 3 formats.

Tough competition between him, Root and Kane - Kohli too is not far away.

Kohli blows Root, Smith and KW away in LOI's.

Only a matter of time before he takes his Test game to the next level.

Kohli is the only true batting superstar of this generation.

 

[rhony]

Smith is a world class batsman. Purple patch doesn't last for 3 years.

Kohli, Smith, Williamson and Root are all world class, but I think Kohli and Root are the best of the lot.

Yep. Kohli and Root with Root just edging Kohli.

 

[yasir]

And Wahab fell for it, that is terrible use of kidney

 

[cricketbadshah]

Amazing to watch, but why didn't Wahab just target the stumps.

View attachment 65991​

This is simply the stupidity of wahab, Smith give him full chance to take his wicket by exposing all his stumps but wahab isn't interested in his gift and in return wahab gift him full toss on bat to take a boundary.

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

Great stance, but made to look greater due to a stupid decision NOT TO BOWL AT THE WICKET

 

[yasir]

Kohli blows Root, Smith and KW away in LOI's.

Only a matter of time before he takes his Test game to the next level.

Kohli is the only true batting superstar of this generation.

Kohli has his strengths and weakness, he will be hard pressed to chase around 200...

Kohli and Root are pretty equal, Root is better in test but in LOI, England is not that focused team, plus they don't have batting lineup like India...Root is still pretty good....

Kohli had hard time chasing in AUS specially when Strac and Johnson were around... Its not easy against top team, so far he has being chasing easy total, lets see how he does if given steep target?

 

[MRSN]

bhai ap jaha bhi jao deni hum ne ap ko full toss hi ha..

 

[Balthazar]

Somehow he knew Wahab is still going to bowl there. He just manhandled Wahab there.

 

[Bilal7]

So Smith actually took his guard out there? Wow. Riaz should have definitely aimed for the stumps but to be fair, he was probably very confused.

 

[Bakasura]

Poor Riaz from those hieghts against OZ in WC 2015 now became a laughing stock.

 

[street cricketer]

Kohli has his strengths and weakness, he will be hard pressed to chase around 200...

Kohli and Root are pretty equal, Root is better in test but in LOI, England is not that focused team, plus they don't have batting lineup like India...Root is still pretty good....

Kohli had hard time chasing in AUS specially when Strac and Johnson were around... Its not easy against top team, so far he has being chasing easy total, lets see how he does if given steep target?

He chased 330 inside 40 overs. 175 odd against SA in last T20WC semifinal. Also hit a fifty iirc against Aus chasing 200. Won the match for his team on a green mamba and a rank turner. Pretty sure he hasn't been having easy chases.

 

[b.lesner]

i think smith hypnotised wahab to bowl that bowl otherwise i dont have any explaination even a 5 year old kid would do better

 

[Centurion]

Wahab's got the pace but not the brains

 

[AAKhan]

Everyone was laughing on this fast bowler, so insulting. The indians were showing that again & again to show how dumb this bowler is. He made stance in advance of him delivering the bowl, probably wanted to show the dumbness of the bowler and hit the 4 together.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Smith is the best batsman in the world.

What about and Root?

 

[Indiafan]

Purely instinctive.

Amazing how a lot of fans think they know better. The bowler has less than a fraction of a second to make adjustments regarding where he intended the ball to go.

Except he was standing there when Wahab was starting his run up

 

[Shaan]

mustafiz few days ago through smiths two legs shattered his stumps now how come riaz at this stance didn't target stumps! can't understand why?

 

[cricket4all]

Brilliant by Smith but very stupid cricket by Riaz not using his brain in doing something really simple

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Nvr mind...embed not working.

 

[Abdullah719]

I like this meme.

 

[mosh101]

If Amir did this then people would be suspicious

 

[khanpower]

malik in for sami last two overs and that extra 15 runs could be saved.

 

[cricfan14]

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

I wonder if this WT20 will end the myth in Pakistan that Wahab is a good or useful bowler?

It was, what, 1 wicket all tournament? Brainless bowling. I mean, Australia were all LAUGHING at him. Embarrassing.

 

[MRSN]

malik in for sami last two overs and that extra 15 runs could be saved.

if Afridi had that much sense then we wouldn't have seen Guptil scoring 80 and NZ putting such a huge total. Afridi was a nightmare!!

 

[Sadevdesai]

I thought Wahab was an ATG !!!

 

[The Last Of The Stars]

 

[MMHS]

Only amazing thing in that frame is the size of Wahab's brain - Smith actually cost AUS few runs; had he left that ball, it would have been 5 Wide for sure.

Smith was standing on side crease & his back foot is at least 5 feet from middle stick - & he was waiting for the ball - a simple good-length ball of 125KM within stick & he won't have reached ever from that stance.

 

[rhony]

Its unfortunate that his opening spell has been overshadowed by this rubbish ball. Australians had a chuckle and Wahab actually explaining to Afridi why he bowled that during the innings break. Not sure what that was

 

[badsha001]

please kick wahab out from pak team for good few years

 

[Saj]

Leg stump Yorker. Job done and Smith would have been heading back to the dugout.

 

[Bilcha01]

If I were Wahab Riaz, I would be embarassed looking at this.

Steve Smith quite literally lured him into his trap, toyed with him, and dispatched him. Absolutely a class above any one of our bowlers.

KISS: Keep It Simple Stupid. Wahab, just bowl at the stumps, and its out. But no, our bowlers love to stay away from the yorkers and tray off-cutting bouncers, etc. Pathetic!

 

[Messiah]

Haha brilliant from smith. He knew wahab had no brain so he can manipulate him as he likes. It takes smartness to pull this off

 

[LegendAli]

So Smith actually took his guard out there? Wow. Riaz should have definitely aimed for the stumps but to be fair, he was probably very confused.

LOL what else is new?

 

[MMHS]

So Smith actually took his guard out there? Wow. Riaz should have definitely aimed for the stumps but to be fair, he was probably very confused.

What could be the confusion - if the wickets also have walked 5 feet left & 2 feet high? I mean, had it been yorker, I would have taken that he followed the batsman, but that was knee high full toss, 5 feet away from stick .......

 

[GrandMaster]

I hope he does this to Bumrah

 

[Last Monetarist]

Mindless ball from Wahab to be frank. Smith moved far too early in his crease that spooked Wahab into following him.

 

[cricketerB94]

Bad choice of ball from Wahab but Smith played that ball brilliantly.
From what i observed in replays, i would say that Smith initially taken his stance near the off stump (not that far away as shown in picture) and his eyes were on Wahab's wrists that where where would he land the ball (either on stumps or follow him).
As initially, he was not that far away from off stump, he could easily make the adjustments looking at Wahab's wrists if he bowled on leg stump and would nick that or paddle sweep that to fine leg boundary.
But When he saw that Wahab was following him, he moved far from off stump and flicked that full toss for boundary.
The thought process and physical movement behind this shot is really appreciable.

 

[Abdul]

The key to success is to bowl straight.

 

[Suleiman]

This is simply the stupidity of wahab, Smith give him full chance to take his wicket by exposing all his stumps but wahab isn't interested in his gift and in return wahab gift him full toss on bat to take a boundary.

Yeah but it was 148 kph, pace is pace yaar, doesn't matter if it gives wickets or runs.

 

[pillionrider]

The only explanation could be that Wahab for some reason thought Smith would step back into his normal batting position.

The ball might not have been called wide if the umpire was fair.

 

[Zak_Fan]

This is where you can tell the mentality of our bowlers. Any decent minded bowler would have aimed for the stumps.

I think the time when Wahab let the ball go had Smith setting himself up for a scoop, so Wahab bowled it wide to neutralize that.

 

[street cricketer]

I was in splits when I saw this live.

Would've been even more comical had Wahab bowled a bouncer at Smith

 

[Suleiman]

I like this meme.

He could've even bowled it just a little outside of off stump and he'd still be safe since Smith would need to bring his bat around and wouldn't be able to get distance.

I remember Grant Elliot did this same trick MULTIPLE times to some random bowler in KFC big bash. After Elliot was like on 50 or something only THEN did the bowler grow a brain and targetted the stumps when Elliot moved out of the line.

 

[Aman]

Smith ended up looking a million bucks, it would have been the complete opposite had he gotten out there.

Surely he's smart enough to never do something like that again.

 

[super hitter]

his wicket was not that important and wahab would've thought that smith is coming up with something special.