Still, he needed a 50+ score when his team was behind or when the match was in balance, but it did not happen once and thus Australia almost lost 3 Tests out of 4. He was unsuccessful when situation was critical or when chips were down. It's always relatively easy to dominate when you are ahead or when you bat first with no scoreboard pressure and with first use of a flatter pitch. Smith is Tendulkar 2.0
He totally reminds me Tendulkar version 2.0 (the accumulator) although Smith is a much better accumulator. Yet the Tendulkar 2.0 would seldom do in a truly critical situation, his 100s were good but rarely great or truly match defining or impactful. And idk about Smith but at least this series, he's done what Tendulkar did often, which is score 100s when its relatively easy and then not even score 40 even once in all the other relatively tougher or tighter match situations/ conditions.
When backs were against the wall or match was really tight, Tendulkar too would crumble or get dismissed along with his team mates in one way or another... This is why Tendulkar despite his stats is NOT seen as the 2nd greatest Test batsman, its not about the stats. Up until 2011 after around 175 Tests, his test average was 57 at age of 38. Thats incredible, but he played relatively fewer match defining innings in the later half of his career, which affected his standing among the greats of the game, and it hurt India's success rate especially overseas.
Its more about when you perform. Umesh Yadav averaged 36+ for the season, yet we all know how invaluable he was, especially with his timely impactful breakthroughs. His true worth & avg would be much lower.
Therefore, **** the stats, they don't win you anything. I can recall India's tour of Australia 2007/08 where Tendulkar was amazing, he looked in top form, he scored 100s & 50s in each of the 1st innings of the 4 Tests.
It was roughly like 60, 160, 70, 150
yet he did nothing in any of the 2nd innings, not that 2nd innings runs are always valuable but given India and their overall performance, India tended to be in a tight situation come the 2nd innings and Tendulkar, despite his ability and form, would get out or crumble when behind.... or in those truly tough situations which could change or define the series... and thus India lost that series, just like Australia has lost this one, and in a team sport thats all that actually matters!!
Tendulkar failed to propel India to victory, Smith failed to propel Australia to victory despite both being in sublime form overall. When it truly mattered, they both failed. Thats all that ultimately counts.
2007/08 Australia win 2-1
2017 India win 2-1
