The legacy of Steve Smith

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Haven't read last few pages. Have we found a semi credible hole in Smith's record yet? I'm desparate for it.

This is an internet forum, you can settle for non credible if it fits your personal preferences.

 

[Burgey]

He seems to be batting better again since the brown nosed dwarf was sacked

 

[Gob]

He seems to be batting better again since the brown nosed dwarf was sacked

Its the technical adjustment isn't it.

He was getting in to some horrible positions post 2019 due to that exaggerated movement back. Now he is standing still and smashing ****

 

[Burgey]

If only he’d had a coach between 2019 and 2022 who could have pointed that out to him

 

[Anil]

Bangladesh.

exactly! such a pathetic record there, don't know why people aren't pointing this out more!

 

[Slifer]

Another thing is that Sachin, Sangakkara etc never actually ever averaged 60 overall. Smith once averaged what 64 or so and even now, he averages 61. That's nuts. And one doesn't have to cherry pick or any of that stuff with Smith

 

[The_CricketUmpire]

Fair enough. He's not the clear 2nd best and yes a lot will depend and on the numbers he ends up with once he retires

Even if his form dips between now and when he retires, what he has been able to achieve has been very very good.

I guess this response of mine might been as "sitting on the fence"....but really...is there REALLY such thing as the best batsman of all time?? Let me explain:

It is so very difficult to compare batsman from different eras, taking into consideration opposition bowling attacks quality, pitch conditions etc etc. I just gets far too hard. This is why I reckon its all based around opinion. I mean sure stats can be a good guide but I like to use stats as a guide plus what my eyes are telling me and assessing other factors too.

All these great batsman, and Slifer you have mentioned a few names and so have others......is there really a massive gap between all of these great players? I dont think there is. I reckon they are all good..or rather - unbelievably good in their own way.

As ive said, the best batsman I've seen is Lara and I'm 35 so I've seen a fair bit of cricket. But other people on this forum might be older then me so they can say they've seen fantastic players before my time which is fine too.

Now some people on here will disagree with my assessment about Lara and that's fine as well. I guess it comes down to opinion.

Maybe the fairest way to put it is that Smith when he retires will be placed amongst the great batsman of all time, who cares where he is in the ranking etc....to even be considered with the likes of Lara, Tendulkar, Sobers, Ponting, Richards, Sangakarra, Kallis, Bradman, etc etc etc etc is a great effort from Smith. Not many batsman get to that level to be considered a great.

Again, I know my response above might seem as "sitting on the fence" but I still believe its just so very hard to compare the all time great batsman. I still though like discussing them of course and enjoy talking to you all ?

 

[The_CricketUmpire]

Another thing is that Sachin, Sangakkara etc never actually ever averaged 60 overall. Smith once averaged what 64 or so and even now, he averages 61. That's nuts. And one doesn't have to cherry pick or any of that stuff with Smith

The closest Sangakarra got to in terms of the 60 mark for averages was 59.13 in 2014 when he scored 221 against Pakistan.

Tendulkar - closest he got to the 60 aversge mark was 59.17 when he scored 117 against the West Indies in 2002.

 

[Slifer]

The closest Sangakarra got to in terms of the 60 mark for averages was 59.13 in 2014 when he scored 221 against Pakistan.

Tendulkar - closest he got to the 60 aversge mark was 59.17 when he scored 117 against the West Indies in 2002.

I think Sobers was at 60 something over 80 tests or so and Wally Hammond as well if I can recall. We've are covered Ricky at 59.99.

 

[Spark]

If only he’d had a coach between 2019 and 2022 who could have pointed that out to him

Good thing the coach at that time was a former national team batting coach and under his tenure the national side definitely wasn't susceptible to, oh I don't know, getting rolled for double figures once a series

 

[subshakerz]

Another thing is that Sachin, Sangakkara etc never actually ever averaged 60 overall. Smith once averaged what 64 or so and even now, he averages 61. That's nuts. And one doesn't have to cherry pick or any of that stuff with Smith

Yeah even if we argue home padding, blah blah it is still such a feat of runscoring prowess that cannot be ignored.

 

[subshakerz]

Wait you’re trying to poke a hole in his average by pointing out he averages 5 more per innings away than the guy you’re wanting to boost in this comparison (not that he needs boosting btw, he was an amazing player).

Nah, I acknowledge as things stand he has an edge over Tendulkar.

 

[Burgey]

Sure, but I think there’s a few things Tendulkar has going for him over Smith tbf. The length of time the bloke excelled for is extraordinary. But as has been noted, you’re comparing atgs here. There’s so little between players when it gets to that sort of standard

 

[Slifer]

Sure, but I think there’s a few things Tendulkar has going for him over Smith tbf. The length of time the bloke excelled for is extraordinary. But as has been noted, you’re comparing atgs here. There’s so little between players when it gets to that sort of standard

Yeah I'd also give credit to Tendulkar for in addition to playing for so long, he faced an insane number of very good/great bowlers: Ws, Ambrose, Walsh, Bishop, Warne, McGrath, Akhtar, Saqlain, Murali, Steyn, Gillespie, Morkel, DeVilliers, etc. That's a lot of quality there. He didn't already have success against the above, when they bowled in tandem. But who did?

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Fmd imagine having to bowl to the 19 fellas better than him

Bradman, Border and the imaginary 17 eh?

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Australian team will head back to the 'pack' once SPD smith retires- similar to how Kallis and co retirement hurt SAF- but not quite that extreme as Labu will be playing a long time.

Also depends how their next pair of openers go.

 

[subshakerz]

Haven't read last few pages. Have we found a semi credible hole in Smith's record yet? I'm desparate for it.

The one knock we have established is that Smith has comparably played less against great or worldclass attacks in his career and what he has achieved against them doesn't stand ahead of Tendulkar or maybe Lara overall.

 

[Coronis]

I guess this response of mine might been as "sitting on the fence"....but really...is there REALLY such thing as the best batsman of all time?? Let me explain:

Yes, his name is Bradman.

 

[The_CricketUmpire]

Yes, his name is Bradman.

Well apart from him of course.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Waiting for Mark Howard to anoint the former skipper and current middle-order maestro as simply - S.P.D Smith