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Graeme Smith vs Younis Khan

Graeme Smith vs Younis Khan

  • Total voters
    25
Prince EWS

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
I think I'm probably the biggest Graeme Smith fan on the forum, since Richard no longer posts.

And that just makes it even easier to rate Hoggard for owning him. 😈
 
BazBall21

BazBall21

International Captain
Opening in SA is harder than batting at 4 in Pak/UAE and Smith's away average is better than Younis'. This isn't courtesy of minnow-bashing too, both men did a fair bit of that. Smith's record against top-level bowling isn't great, but Younis doesn't really overwhelm him in that respect. One could argue Younis went on for longer and was obviously a better player of spin than Smith, but I think Graeme having to open in SA contributed heavily to his early retirement. I generally feel that conditions play an underestimated role in the longevity of players.

I actually think Smith's record at home is a little under-scrutinised though in fairness (for example Dean Elgar averages more than him at home in a tougher batting era). Opening in SA is a brutish but not impossible task and an average of 34 at home to the competitive bowling sides of his era is a tad underwhelming. But Younis imo isn't the best example of a player who would have done better than him at that job. A very competent but not terrific player of pace bowling. Also feel that South Africans of Graeme Smith's era tended to get very good batting conditions away from home in conscious attempts to neutralise the best bowling attack in the world, but Smith does still have opener tax. His adjusted away average of 46.6 (relative to the runs scored by top seven batters in the overseas tests Smith featured in) is still brilliant, but a pretty mighty drop.

Think Smith is ahead as a cross-conditions player, but not by much.
 
P

PlayerComparisons

International Vice-Captain
BazBall21 said:
Opening in SA is harder than batting at 4 in Pak/UAE and Smith's away average is better than Younis'. This isn't courtesy of minnow-bashing too, both men did a fair bit of that. Smith's record against top-level bowling isn't great, but Younis doesn't really overwhelm him in that respect. One could argue Younis went on for longer and was obviously a better player of spin than Smith, but I think Graeme having to open in SA contributed heavily to his early retirement. I generally feel that conditions play an underestimated role in the longevity of players.

I actually think Smith's record at home is a little under-scrutinised though in fairness (for example Dean Elgar averages more than him at home in a tougher batting era). Opening in SA is a brutish but not impossible task and an average of 34 at home to the competitive bowling sides of his era is a tad underwhelming. But Younis imo isn't the best example of a player who would have done better than him at that job. A very competent but not terrific player of pace bowling. Also feel that South Africans of Graeme Smith's era tended to get very good batting conditions away from home in conscious attempts to neutralise the best bowling attack in the world, but Smith does still have opener tax. His adjusted away average of 46.6 (relative to the runs scored by top seven batters in the overseas tests Smith featured in) is still brilliant, but a pretty mighty drop.

Think Smith is ahead as a cross-conditions player, but not by much.
Click to expand...
Do you rate Hayden higher than Younis?
 
S

subshakerz

Hall of Fame Member
BazBall21 said:
Opening in SA is harder than batting at 4 in Pak/UAE and Smith's away average is better than Younis'. This isn't courtesy of minnow-bashing too, both men did a fair bit of that. Smith's record against top-level bowling isn't great, but Younis doesn't really overwhelm him in that respect. One could argue Younis went on for longer and was obviously a better player of spin than Smith, but I think Graeme having to open in SA contributed heavily to his early retirement. I generally feel that conditions play an underestimated role in the longevity of players.

I actually think Smith's record at home is a little under-scrutinised though in fairness (for example Dean Elgar averages more than him at home in a tougher batting era). Opening in SA is a brutish but not impossible task and an average of 34 at home to the competitive bowling sides of his era is a tad underwhelming. But Younis imo isn't the best example of a player who would have done better than him at that job. A very competent but not terrific player of pace bowling. Also feel that South Africans of Graeme Smith's era tended to get very good batting conditions away from home in conscious attempts to neutralise the best bowling attack in the world, but Smith does still have opener tax. His adjusted away average of 46.6 (relative to the runs scored by top seven batters in the overseas tests Smith featured in) is still brilliant, but a pretty mighty drop.

Think Smith is ahead as a cross-conditions player, but not by much.
Click to expand...
Yeah I am flipping to Smith now. Damn.
 
BazBall21

BazBall21

International Captain
PlayerComparisons said:
Do you rate Hayden higher than Younis?
Click to expand...
Hmmm. A SENA legend that was as good in Asia as Hayden has a natural case because pace is fundamentally harder to play. But I don't rate Hayden very highly against pace bowling. High pace or movement. Younis' best knock is Newlands 2013. Feel Oval and Sydney enhance his reputation too much. The comparisons to Dravid are OTT. He's closer to Sehwag imo. Miandad is much better than Hayden though.
 
Prince EWS

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
BazBall21 said:
Hmmm. A SENA legend that was as good in Asia as Hayden has a natural case because pace is fundamentally harder to play. But I don't rate Hayden very highly against pace bowling. High pace or movement. Younis' best knock is Newlands 2013. Feel Oval and Sydney enhance his reputation too much. The comparisons to Dravid are OTT. He's closer to Sehwag imo. Miandad is much better than Hayden though.
Click to expand...
Leave Jimmy out of the Oval
 
shortpitched713

shortpitched713

International Captain
Changed my vote to Younis Khan, but it's a hair breadth margin for me. Younis was a real stud, and especially his role gets underrated coming in at number 3 for a Pakistan side whose middle order was very productive but afraid of the new ball, and openers that were... well the less said the better.
 
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