Roy too, the ultimate FTB.Talking of Smith I think he would be more fondly remembered for his odi batting had he played in the 90's the pitches were not completely roads back then would have been a more successful odi player then likes off Bairstow, Butler, Rohit, Maxwell etc
incredibly beta from you nglAlso you want to bat again in the 2nd innings to give your bowlers a rest rather than trying to bowl a team out again straight away following on.
Yeah like if batting is all about "how well you execute the absolute minutae of classical shotmaking" then Smith is 'ugly', but if batting is about, well, batsmanship, adapting to conditions, solving problems on the fly etc etc then Smith is probably the most interesting batsman to watch that I've personally seen. His adaptability is on another level compared to even the truly great batsmen in my lifetime.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.
Rohit and Maxwell are quality fc batsmen though and Rohit has done very well in tests away since being an opener and was always godly at home. Maxwell would have had a good record too if he was played instead of the hapless Head. Bairstow’s also done well in at least two test years right?Talking of Smith I think he would be more fondly remembered for his odi batting had he played in the 90's the pitches were not completely roads back then would have been a more successful odi player then likes off Bairstow, Butler, Rohit, Maxwell etc
Think he got better playing spin but his reflections gave away against pace especially when it comes to playing on quicker wickets in AustraliaWeird thing about Ponting was his best two tours of India came towards the end of his career when he was otherwise in decline. Neither of them were world beating, but a decent improvement on his previous output there. Averaged 46 in 08 and 56 in 2010. Latter was his most consistent - three 70s in four digs. In 08 he had a ton and an 80 but not much in between.
Not that it excuses his record there by a long shot, but Ponting's "peak" mostly missed tours to India. The one that Aus had right in the middle of that time was 2004 and he missed it with injuryIIRC Smith averaged something like 21 after 38 ODI, Got played everywhere from 3-8 and basically didn't know his role. Has been a fairly exceptional Odi player since then.
On the earlier discussions re. Ponting, I always felt it was his India record that let him down more the poor end to his career.
Even when he was at his peak averaging nearly 60, he averaged something like 16 in India. Just too big a hole in his record for a top 10 all time batsman for me.
Faked it tbh. Too scared to face HerbNot that it excuses his record there by a long shot, but Ponting's "peak" mostly missed tours to India. The one that Aus had right in the middle of that time was 2004 and he missed it with injury
Not sure where your average of 16 comes from but I can only assume it's just the 2001 tour and the 1 game he played in 2004 where batting was a lottery on a nightmare pitch (Michael Clarke 6/9 game)
I would think that 1996 would not be part of his "peak averaging nearly 60"ftr think he played an off test in India in 96. There was a sixty odd to his name before that 01 tour
The 16 was just the number that came to mind, I remember it was very low at the time but haven't actually looked it up.I would think that 1996 would not be part of his "peak averaging nearly 60"
I'll take him well over those two due to peak, below Tendulkar, same level as Lara56.40 puts him in the Kallis/ Sanga league and in the Ponting class.
Tendulkar - Lara still better?
Yeah he’s around Lara level for me.I'll take him well over those two due to peak, below Tendulkar, same level as Lara