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The legacy of Steve Smith

Burgey

Burgey

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One of the atgs. Tremendous shout from L&L here.

I think when he was playing in the 80s he went pretty close to a test call up didn’t he? Seem to remember him being in the discussion at some point
 
h_hurricane

h_hurricane

International Vice-Captain
Burgey said:
I have it from a reasonable source close to the team that the motivation for it was they knew SA were ball tampering through the whole series.

Terrific post from Chubb though. Pretty spot on.

Mostly because Aus sportspeople DO dominate fairly and squarely in all endeavours. Always have and always will.

there’s never been a more sporting people or country. I know a lot of people find it odd when Australians look down our noses at other people and countries who aren’t good at sport, but those people and countries deserve it for being inferior physical specimens and lacking in the requisite ticker.

If you aren’t adept in the surf and the pool, at running, in at least three of the four football codes, at cricket, hockey or tennis then you are quite rightly mocked and bullied during your schooling until you get better and fit in. That then continues into adulthood, as it should.

There’s no place here for the unfit and unsporting. That’s why we excel and don’t need to cheat.
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Every opposition player who had the misfortune of playing against Australia should have his record adjusted upwards. Every opposition bowler who had the misfortune of playing against Smith should have his bowling average adjusted for better.
 
The_CricketUmpire

The_CricketUmpire

U19 Captain
My opinion - I have Smith up there with Ponting. Above him?...Not sure.

The thing that comes to mind is the weak era Smith is batting in - most of the time the decks are roads, bigger bats, and the quality of fast bowlers and spinners isn't what it used to be collectively from the 1990s through to the mid 2000s - back then they were just better.

If Smith batted in that era then I do not believe his average would be in the 60s - it would be in the 50s...the same with the likes of Ponting, Lara, Tendulkar, Sangakarra etc. A few people have mentioned Border....well he had to face the mighty West Indies team and their fast bowling attacks. Clearly the West Indies of today and the past 10 to 15 years have struggled and aren't good. In fact they are diabolical. In recent times South Afrca aren't strong, not as strong as they were in the 1990s to mid 2000s.

I just think when it comes to comparing batsman, too often the past players are forgotten and the "here and now players" are ranked higher. I just think world Test cricket was stronger collectively in previous eras then what it is now/past 10 years or so. T20 cricket is to blame but that's for another discussion.

Having said all of that, Smith is still an outstanding batsman and will be an all time great. Where to rank him will be the tricky part when you consider many factors, of which I have mentioned some of them above.

For the record, the best batsman I have seen (in my opinion) is Brian Lara.
 
Coronis

Coronis

International Coach
The_CricketUmpire said:
My opinion - I have Smith up there with Ponting. Above him?...Not sure.

The thing that comes to mind is the weak era Smith is batting in - most of the time the decks are roads, bigger bats, and the quality of fast bowlers and spinners isn't what it used to be collectively from the 1990s through to the mid 2000s - back then they were just better.

If Smith batted in that era then I do not believe his average would be in the 60s - it would be in the 50s...the same with the likes of Ponting, Lara, Tendulkar, Sangakarra etc. A few people have mentioned Border....well he had to face the mighty West Indies team and their fast bowling attacks. Clearly the West Indies of today and the past 10 to 15 years have struggled and aren't good. In fact they are diabolical. In recent times South Afrca aren't strong, not as strong as they were in the 1990s to mid 2000s.

I just think when it comes to comparing batsman, too often the past players are forgotten and the "here and now players" are ranked higher. I just think world Test cricket was stronger collectively in previous eras then what it is now/past 10 years or so. T20 cricket is to blame but that's for another discussion.

Having said all of that, Smith is still an outstanding batsman and will be an all time great. Where to rank him will be the tricky part when you consider many factors, of which I have mentioned some of them above.

For the record, the best batsman I have seen (in my opinion) is Brian Lara.
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I didn’t realise bats got bigger in the last decade. Or that Smith played in an easier era than Ponting.
 
ankitj

ankitj

Hall of Fame Member
The_CricketUmpire said:
The thing that comes to mind is the weak era Smith is batting in - most of the time the decks are roads, bigger bats, and the quality of fast bowlers and spinners isn't what it used to be collectively from the 1990s through to the mid 2000s - back then they were just better.
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Hmm interesting.
 
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