Where will Steve Smith end up being ranked?

[Nintendo]

Smith too has played on some of the flattest wickets known to man. It’s only in last 5 years, conditions have become tougher.

2015-2020 was the period, not 2017-2022. Don't think Aussie decks where that flat in smith's peak bar that India 2015 series just after Hughes passed, could be wrong on that though.

 

[subshakerz]

2015-2020 was the period, not 2017-2022. Don't think Aussie decks where that flat in smith's peak bar that India 2015 series just after Hughes passed, could be wrong on that though.

Pitches were pretty flat in Australia all the way until 2017. Otherwise I dont think a Pakistan could score a double ton in 2016.

 

[Chrish]

Those Pakistani series were painful to watch. Literally nothing for the bowlers. I remember Smith getting scared shitless as a captain when Pakistan came very close to chasing down that 450 target.

 

[Nintendo]

Pitches were pretty flat in Australia all the way until 2017. Otherwise I dont think a Pakistan could score a double ton in 2016.

Yeah the pitches in that 2016 series look like they where flat as flat gets, my bad on that call.

 

[Nintendo]

Those Pakistani series were painful to watch. Literally nothing for the bowlers. I remember Smith getting scared ****less as a captain when Pakistan came very close to chasing down that 450 target.

Smith was a pretty **** captain TBF, particularly in ODI's. His treatment of Maxwell was pretty ****.

 

[Chrish]

What I am saying is wickets were pretty flat during that time period in pretty much all of series. Kohli and Williamson scored plenty of hundreds during that time period in Australia.

 

[Gob]

Iirc Ponting averaged 58 or something after playing 100 tests. Smith is averaging 60 with 87 games. So, there isn’t much of a difference.

What I am saying is what he has accomplished isn’t unprecedented..

Ponting was mostly averaging 55 like most great players before an almighty year in 2006 saw his average briefly past 60 with 9k runs (Adelaide 1st dig IIRC). Smith kept his average over 60 for most part of his career. In fact I think Sobers was the only one to walk in to bat with a 60 plus average after 50 tests consistently

 

[Gob]

What I am saying is wickets were pretty flat during that time period in pretty much all of series. Kohli and Williamson scored plenty of hundreds during that time period in Australia.

Lol Williamson sucked in Australia except for two games.

 

[Chrish]

Lol Williamson sucked in Australia except for two games.

Averaged 86 in 2015 series with two centuries and one 50. That’s the time frame we are discussing (pre-2017).

Virat also scored four hundreds in the series around similar time period.

 

[Jayro]

It's hard to say Sehwag was once averaging 55 slipped off form, a very bad patch of two years, internal politics and he ended up at 49.something.

 

[Gob]

Averaged 86 in 2015 series with two centuries and one 50. That’s the time frame we are discussing (pre-2017).

Virat also scored four hundreds in the series around similar time period.

Gabba ton was a legitimately good one. He made another one at Perth which was a road. Adelaide was extremely bowler friendly. Ftr Smith didn't do particularly well in that series. Wickets for India series in 2015 were flat as **** though

 

[Gob]

What is the argument anyway? Bowling got better post 2017 and Aust wickets were flat?

Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

 

[subshakerz]

What is the argument anyway? Bowling got better post 2017 and Aust wickets were flat?

Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

Both of those are true but I dont think they are the reason for Smith's dip.

 

[Gob]

Both of those are true but I dont think they are the reason for Smith's dip.

What do you think it is?

 

[Slifer]

I understand that players like Ponting would've averaged 58 odd after 100 tests but he wasnt the only one doing it during his time ie he wasn't head and shoulders above his contemporaries like Smith is. Smith averages 60 to Root and Kohli's 50. Smith averages 57 away whereas none of his contemporaries are close.

Smith has had great series vs great attacks in tough conditions such as : Steyn, Philander and Morkel in RSA or Jadeja, Ashwin Shami in India. He's had monster series home and away etc. Smith is certainly in the conversation for the 2nd best after the Don not just for Australia but worldwide.

 

[Gob]

I understand that players like Ponting would've averaged 58 odd after 100 tests but he wasnt the only one doing it during his time ie he wasn't head and shoulders above his contemporaries like Smith is. Smith averages 60 to Root and Kohli's 50. Smith averages 57 away whereas none of his contemporaries are close.

Smith has had great series vs great attacks in tough conditions such as : Steyn, Philander and Morkel in RSA or Jadeja, Ashwin Shami in India. He's had monster series home and away etc. Smith is certainly in the conversation for the 2nd best after the Don not just for Australia but worldwide.

him not being great in LO cricket and batting style prob has something to do with that. I personally love watching him but some won't

If Kohli or KW had his record, we all be hailing as the best since Don

 

[Slifer]

him not being great in LO cricket and batting style prob has something to do with that. I personally love watching him but some won't

If Kohli or KW had his record, we all be hailing as the best since Don

If Root had his record, they'd probably rank Root as the best even above the Don. Trust me.

 

[Patience and Accuracy+Gut]

If Root had his record, they'd probably rank Root as the best even above the Don. Trust me.

Similar to how stupid fans rank Anderson above Marshall.

 

[Socerer 01]

him not being great in LO cricket and batting style prob has something to do with that. I personally love watching him but some won't

If Kohli or KW had his record, we all be hailing as the best since Don

we aren’t judging the Don based on his non-existent white ball record though are we

 

[Socerer 01]

Consistent cross format excellence is something that is extremely difficult these days when the demands in each format vary wildly and you have lots of analysts working all the while to figure out how to restrict you or get you out. Kohli and AB de Villiers were the only ones you could legitimately claim were the top of the trade in all three formats at a single point and Babar Azam today

Smith’s white ball record isn’t bad either. It is still very good. It’s not his fault that Australia seem to want him to not bat at three in major tournaments when he has shown in multiple games that he thrives at three. He averages something in the range of mid 50s at three in ODIs IIRC