Smith v Kohli (test match batting)

[stephen]

Poor attempt of glorifying Smith tbh..

Lol.

As for Punter vs Lara vs Kohli vs Tendulkar, I think they're all close enough for a debate. Ponting's later years really hurt his legacy but all four are close enough to each other to put them in the same tier *when compared to Smith*, who is clearly an upgrade on any of them.

FWIW, personally I rate Lara as the best of the 90s, Ponting the best of the 00s and Tendulkar as having had a better career than both. He was by far the most consistent of the three.

Kohli seems to have Lara's appetite for big runs but is technically weaker than either Lara or Tendulkar. I think he'll have a very long run of low form (particularly away from home) after he hits 34ish and end up similar to Punter.

 

[_00_deathscar]

Yea also, as I pointed out in another thread (and also as represented by the ICC rankings), Tendulkar had a good peak but (without 'standardising' averages or anything), Pointing's peak was a good whole level above that. I don't recall Lara's ICC numbers but I'm guessing he also had this gear/peak that was just higher. Apart from a mid career dip (injury?) and end of career slump, overall Sachin was far, far more consistent as a batsman though and more likely to put up good numbers - just not great 'daddy hundreds' (200+ anyway - he has very few of those relatively speaking for his career. I think he has quite a few 150+ though). Also, Sachin didn't have any holes against any team - unless you count a 40+ average vs South Africa and Pakistan as holes.

Smith's peak has surpassed Ponting's peak, which was already quite impressive. What's interesting is that Kohli's peak seems to be up there in that kind of region, a level above Sachin's in fact (7 double hundreds in the last 40 tests) but possibly a shade below Smith's peak, so perhaps level with Ponting's peak.

It's hard to say how they'll end their career - will it be huge slumps, a gradual decline, a final swansong? It's a privilege to watch though.

For an Indian, I didn't think we'd see someone anywhere near as good as Sachin, probably for at least a decade or so, probably more - but he came right at the end of Sachin's career. Took him a while to get going in tests certainly.
The others are clearly a drop down from their counterparts though Pujara is a good batsman (Pujara/Rahane vs Dravid/Laxman).

 

[Pup Clarke]

Think Kohli technically looks bloody good, even more assured than Smith imo. Don't think his appetite for runs will diminish either

Also he's in prime physical shape, which is not something to be underestimated. I'm sure most test cricketers are in good shape but Kohli looks next level

 

[stephen]

Kohli's technical weakness is outside off. Australian bowlers have exploited it better than others and it's not enough to drag him down much... yet. But it's there even if it's not as obvious as Ponting's was.

 

[ankitj]

Yeah this is pretty much it. Not a stretch to suggest he hasn’t obsessed as much on batting as he used to as a result. Whether it’s affected his batting at all, probably not.

Anyways, can’t believe there are still a couple of people who seriously think Kohli>Smith. Mental.

Kohli is certainly less obsessed with his batting record than Tendulkar was. That has no bearing on comparison between Smith and Kohli because I don't know if being as obsessed would have given him a better record, just an aside.

 

[Burgey]

Yeah, skippering obviously has a different effects on blokes. I dunno what it's done for Kohli - whether the distractions of it help him or not. For some guys it helps and their records improve -though Kohli was already exceptional before the captaincy, its certainly agreed with him. Whereas poor old Joe Root has gone backwards at a rate of knots since becoming skipper.

 

[srbhkshk]

All praise Kohli. He may not be as good as Smith in tests but the guy deserves a wave for always saying 'what about me' whenever the debate is done and dusted.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking - Smith's always been the better batsman by a distance but Kohli does keep the door slightly ajar.

 

[OverratedSanity]

"He would be better than the other guy, but he just chooses not to be."

You joke but the unending appetite for runs is legitimately what separates freaks like Smith from the rest. Saying kohli wants it less doesn't take anything away from Smith because that ruthlessness to get a big score in every single innings is Smith's greatest strength.

 

[Burgey]

Mate Kohli made 250 odd in his last innings. I’d say the appetite is there just as much as it has ever been. I don’t think you can say Kohli’s been effected negatively or positively by skippering tbh, because he got the gig right when he became great, so it’s really really hard to tell whether it’s helped make him better or whether he would be better again without it.

He’s a great player either way

 

[stephen]

Once again, Ponting is the player Kohli most reminds me of. I think that like Ponting, Kohli's peak happens to have coincided with his time as captain. And his captaincy hasn't really impacted his batting, one way or the other.

 

[harsh.ag]

He takes a lot less risks now, even in LOs. Good in tests, bad in LOs. That's definitely one way the captaincy has changed his batting.

 

[Burner]

I think Kohli has gone as far as you can go in terms of reducing risk without compromising SR. Though that comes at the cost of exciting innings' that comes with increased risk.

 

[Chrish]

Lol.

As for Punter vs Lara vs Kohli vs Tendulkar, I think they're all close enough for a debate. Ponting's later years really hurt his legacy but all four are close enough to each other to put them in the same tier *when compared to Smith*, who is clearly an upgrade on any of them.
.

I can see where you get your reputation as a one-eyed Aussie fan from :P

Anyways, same thing was said of Ponting. You can see that in old threads. Not saying same thing will happen here but you never know. So, shouldn’t count the chickens before they hatch. Let’s wait till the conclusion of their career, shall we?

It’s not as if there is no weakness in his game. It hasn’t been too long when he struggled against SA. So, there are definitely things for the opposition to exploit here.

 

[vcs]

Ponting was averaging 60 after more than 100 Tests which is pretty amazing, but 65 after nearly 70 Tests for Smith is rarefied air.

But yeah, no guarantees. Let's see how it goes from here and enjoy the ride, they are both fantastic players.

 

[Coronis]

Ponting was averaging 60 after more than 100 Tests which is pretty amazing, but 65 after nearly 70 Tests for Smith is rarefied air.

But yeah, no guarantees. Let's see how it goes from here and enjoy the ride, they are both fantastic players.

How many guys have ever averaged 65 after the min 20 innings? Headley and Bradman?

 

[Daemon]

Voges almost did

 

[OverratedSanity]

Hussey was well over 80 I think

 

[mr_mister]

Jimmy Adams too, easily

4 tons and 6 fifties in his first 21 innings


Biggest wasted potential ever

 

[Arachnodouche]

Lol

Why the lol? Smith is comfortably the better batsman and was so even before the sandpaper scene. This was simply an observation on how the older Kohli comes across.

 

[h_hurricane]

Wally Hammond before the 2nd World War was averaging 61+ after 77 tests which is phenomenal. Sobers was averaging 60+ till his 82nd test.