Where will Steve Smith end up being ranked?

[ZK$]

With all due respect, neither Sobers nor Sachin are in some exalted tier above the rest. Sobers is not the undisputed best WI batsman. Sachin is probably that for India but he's not without good competition from Hobbs, Hutton, Hammond etc. Just about the only thing he has above them is longevity.

I was just listing a few examples. I agree that guys like Hobbs are in that tier as well.

 

[Chrish]

I still think Viv is 2nd best. There have been others with better numbers; but there is something about a player who didn’t wear helmet and took pace bowlers on while they kept trying to bounce him throughout his career..

He was one of a kind..

 

[Adders]

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.

So dumb, totaly wrong and completely unnecessary to this discussion.

 

[Coronis]

So dumb, totaly wrong and completely unnecessary to this discussion.

Hi, are you new here?

 

[ankitj]

Yeah I noticed that. My point still stands though if you are going to look at good bits of one player, you should do the same for the other. Smith's own career is only 12 years

You wouldn't have to do that if you give longevity its due. But often there is a "meh longevity" attitude on here so one gotta remind that in that case you cut out years outside what is normal for a great player and then see their records.

 

[subshakerz]

What do you think it is?

I just think Smith is past his peak, it happens to every great bat. Smith averages 42 in 19 tests since his great Ashes series.

 

[subshakerz]

Assuming Smith averages 40 for another 50 innings, around 30 tests, his average will drop to 54. Still great but more comparable to others.

 

[Gob]

I just think Smith is past his peak, it happens to every great bat. Smith averages 42 in 19 tests since his great Ashes series.

His SR has significantly dropped since that series. With out checking, I assume its around 42/43 now compared to high 50s before so he is essentially spending as much time in the crease now as he did before but score 70s instead 100s

 

[Chrish]

Don’t mind low SR considering almost every game produces result these days. Occupying the crease and grinding down the bowlers is much more important than scoring at brisk pace in this era.

 

[Kirkut]

He might not be as polished a batsman as Tendulkar was or as freak of a genius as Lara was or let's say having an aura of dominance like Viv. But he surpasses all the above 3 in run scoring ability.

Steve Smith is the ultimate run machine.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Don’t mind low SR considering almost every game produces result these days. Occupying the crease and grinding down the bowlers is much more important than scoring at brisk pace in this era.

It's not but ok

 

[Coronis]

He might not be as polished a batsman as Tendulkar was or as freak of a genius as Lara was or let's say having an aura of dominance like Viv. But he surpasses all the above 3 in run scoring ability.

Steve Smith is the ultimate run machine.

Very disrespectful to Voges.

 

[Burgey]

He might not be as polished a batsman as Tendulkar was or as freak of a genius as Lara was or let's say having an aura of dominance like Viv. But he surpasses all the above 3 in run scoring ability.

Steve Smith is the ultimate run machine.

I love watching him bat because there’s something about his set up which for some reason makes you able to see his hands manoeuvring the ball. I dunno what it is, but it’s something more noticeable to me with him than with other players. Like you can see his hands change the angle of the bat mid shot somehow.

Probably an illusion.

Maybe because he plays so late but with that odd set up, I dunno. It’s odd. He’s odd.

my face is odd.

and my posts.

 

[honestbharani]

I love watching him bat because there’s something about his set up which for some reason makes you able to see his hands manoeuvring the ball. I dunno what it is, but it’s something more noticeable to me with him than with other players. Like you can see his hands change the angle of the bat mid shot somehow.

Probably an illusion.

Maybe because he plays so late but with that odd set up, I dunno. It’s odd. He’s odd.

my face is odd.

and my posts.

He is basically the epitome of "see it early, play it late". And he seems to have developed almost an instinctive way to either miss the ball or play it with control, somehow seems to have much lesser edges and much more beatens. Fascinating character, fascinating journey, fascinating technique but amazing output.

 

[Burgey]

Fascinating character, fascinating journey, fascinating technique but amazing output.

Much like myself really ?

 

[Chrish]

It's not but ok

You are right. Bazball is the way!

 

[subshakerz]

We can say with some confidence that Smith won't average 60 by the end of his career given his current run. I cant imagine him maintaining a 60 average until the end from here. I think he will continue as a 40/45 solid middle order bat for another few years and end up averaging 54/55. That would put him just inside the top five for me.

 

[Chrish]

We can say with some confidence that Smith won't average 60 by the end of his career given his current run. I cant imagine him maintaining a 60 average until the end from here. I think he will continue as a 40/45 solid middle order bat for another few years and end up averaging 54/55. That would put him just inside the top five for me.

DUDE !! Why are you obsessed with making all these predictions ??

 

[subshakerz]

DUDE !! Why are you obsessed with making all these predictions ??

Because of his form the last three years.

 

[Kirkut]

He is basically the epitome of "see it early, play it late". And he seems to have developed almost an instinctive way to either miss the ball or play it with control, somehow seems to have much lesser edges and much more beatens. Fascinating character, fascinating journey, fascinating technique but amazing output.

I remember watching a game where the ball moved off the seam at 91 mph and Smith just covered the line of the ball and defended it like an off break.

I was like....