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Top 20 greatest batsmen of all time
- Thread starter Adorable Asshole
- Start date
Lillian Thomson
Hall of Fame Member
The whole purpose of that list was to put Richards one place behind Barrington. 
Coronis
International Coach
Not really, but it sure makes sense. Better average, better home and away averages, scored centuries at a higher rate, better conversion rate, hell even a better duck ratio.The whole purpose of that list was to put Richards one place behind Barrington.
Coronis
International Coach
Extremely inflated because its not like he averages 60 away as well or anything…
He nearly does but on current era flat tracks everywhere not just Australia. Compare to say Tendulkar or dravid who often played on very tough wickets in those eras. Smith wilts as soon as the ball moves whether it is spin or seam or high quality swing.
Top batters post 90s adjusted for true pure skill level against the moving delivery(not just batting average)
1. Tendulkar
2. Brian lara
** Daylight
Others approx only
3. Sangakarra
4. Dravid
5. Ponting
6 Kallis
7. De villiers
8. Steve Waugh
Average is deceptive. How can Smith be a better bat that the above greats, average is higher but he never played often against the moving ball. The above faced pace, spin and swing bowling ATGs regularly. Smith never had to face a Wasim or waqar coming at you at pace.
Last edited:
_00_deathscar
International Regular
You don’t actually watch cricket do you? What do you mean by “current era”?
Since about 2018 it’s been ridiculously hard to bat.
Smith never had to face the likes of
Waqar/Wasim
Donald
Murali
Pollock
Curtly Ambrose/Walsh
Anil Kumble / harbhajan Singh(unplayable combo in India)
Shane bond(brief career but still)
Whilst the non Aus players like Tendulkar/ Lara also had to face
Glenn McGrath/ Shane warne
The above bowlers were extremely skillful more than current day attacks. There are no equivalent bowlers in the current era.
Most of the bowlers Smith faced were fairly ordinary.
If he faced the above bowlers his average would likely be 20 pts lower. Hence adjusted for this, he doesn't even rank in the top 8 batsmen post 90s.
_00_deathscar
International Regular
And which of these bowlers did Sanga face on a regular basis outside of Sri Lanka? You have him at #3
Most people rate Smith just below Lara/Sachin at the moment - where he ends up will depend on how his next few years ago.
He would have to have a precipitous collapse for him to be worse than Dravid and co - not even sure a Kohli like collapse would do.
Other than that, your argument was about flat pitches. The pitches of late are anything but flat!
Yes he’s had some flat ones in Australia but he also averages 50+ away in a tough era.
I also think that overall attacks have improved without having that 1/2 super star type in them - they’re more balanced for sure.
The attack that South Africa had for example may not have anyone as good as Steyn, but it’s a more rounded attack than Steyn/Morkel/two spuds.
Finally, it’s one thing to say his average is maybe slightly inflated (hence no one truly yet considers him better than 51-53 type averaging Sachin and Lara), but to claim his average would drop by 20 points is a joke.
TheJediBrah
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Guess it's that time of the year when halba has a run and people take him seriously for a bit
trundler
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Does it hurt you that halba has more credibility than you these days
Its a trouble to compare batting averages of different eras, especially when definitely the quality has reduced. Smith has feasted on some relatively tame attacks in the past 7-8 years namely from India(pre Bumrah), South africa(post Steyn/Morkel) and England(apart from Anderson /Anderson has been injured a lot of the time or ineffective down under). Another batter that has feasted similarly(and recently had a very high test average) is Kohli, but he slumped and his average dropped to under 50. Has a big weakness agains the moving ball- Kohli,.
He is india's version of Smith, albeit less so as his average is more approximate to his skill level.
TheJediBrah
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Your face hurts me
Adorable Asshole
International Regular
Ashwin/Jadeja has way better record in India
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Red_Ink_Squid
Global Moderator
You have to add 10 runs to their average though because they only played prank batsmen like Steve Smith.
Adorable Asshole
International Regular
Nobody gives a **** about your rating tho
Adorable Asshole
International Regular
My list has changed somewhat from then
1 Don
2 Lara
3 Hobbs
4 Sachin
5 Gavaskar
6 Smith
7 Richards
8 Sobers
9 Hutton
10 Sutcliffe
11 Barrington
12 Ponting
13 Sangakara
14 Dravid
15 Waugh
16 Kallis
17 Chappell
18 Miandad
19 Border
20 Headley
1 Don
2 Lara
3 Hobbs
4 Sachin
5 Gavaskar
6 Smith
7 Richards
8 Sobers
9 Hutton
10 Sutcliffe
11 Barrington
12 Ponting
13 Sangakara
14 Dravid
15 Waugh
16 Kallis
17 Chappell
18 Miandad
19 Border
20 Headley
