PlayerComparisons
International Vice-Captain
Smith vs Jadeja is one of the great ATG rivalriesYes. Nobody handled Ashwin Jadeja with that next level of ability. Definitely up there.
Smith vs Jadeja is one of the great ATG rivalriesYes. Nobody handled Ashwin Jadeja with that next level of ability. Definitely up there.
Then what happened in India tour in 2022/23 where his 'top score' in the entire 4 test series was only 38..Yes. Nobody handled Ashwin Jadeja with that next level of ability. Definitely up there.
In India they are ATG level as I have always maintained.Wow if what you say is true Ashwin and Jadeja must have been pretty good
Where are specifically talking about moment of unique skill ala Lara hence the 2017 tour snapshot. Please keep up with the conversation.Then what happened in India tour in 2022/23 where his 'top score' in the entire 4 test series was only 38..
You have to see the good with the bad. See the full picture.
He was not a genuis who was putting the world on fire as a teen.. yeah right.Tendulkar wasn't a genius frankly, and I rate him the best after Bradman. He was a master of his craft much like Smith.
He was a prodigy, not a genius.He was not a genuis who was putting the world on fire as a teen.. yeah right.
But Smith is not finished yet.. so we have to reserve judgment.That's kinda what Richards did too though.
His home conditions before 2019 were pretty disgustingly stacked in favour of him though. I don't rate his home record anywhere near as highly as most do. In August 2019 my standardised averages project was nerfing his overall average down from 63 to below 58, and that was despite some gun away performances that it was boosting. He was actually still ranked behind Kohli on it at that point (although only because of longevity it seems - Kohli's average was standardising to 54).Smith was hovering at almost confirmed next best since Bradman with a 61 average until recently had he continued his form. I don't think any bat since Bradman was so far ahead of the next best of his era.
You can believe what you want to believe.He was a prodigy, not a genius.
For that to happen, he needs to play till he hits his 40th bday. It's not like he is in a hunt for certain world records in terms of runs or tons that you'd expect him to continue playing for so long..What if he goes on even longer and ends up averaging 49.86?
Think he's well locked into the top 10, if not higherIf Smith can have a great couple of years coming up, a lot of people will revise their opinion of him and rate him as a lock in top dozen but I actually think he is going to continue to struggle given his hard unorthodox technique and deteriorating hand & eye.
My friend, of course Smith was going to take a hit like even Tendulkar and Viv but his baseline accomplishments before his dip and all-round record and skill level plus unparalleled peer rating should have meant to me he would have secured himself a place in the highest echelon. Like he still averages 57 and has a good record everywhere but it's almost as if he has maxed out at barely top ten and I can't for the life of me understand why.It's too easy to judge a player solely on their peak performances rather than an overall career. A player such as Botham is downgraded because of an ordinary latter half of his career. This is why I'm reluctant to judge current players. Smith, for example, had a marvellous peak but his recent performances have been well below his best.
@subshakerz you say "had he currently continued his form" but surely such a condition could be applied to numerous players who peak early.
We are dealing with hypotheticals and "what ifs" when we should only consider facts. "What if" Gooch had continued his form from his debut Test? We would never have seen him again.
It is because of the competition he is facing. A rank of 7th or 8th of all-time is nothing to be frowned. Why are you so worried that it is 8 and not 6. 8 is not bad. Everyone above him so far does deserve to be ranked above him.My friend, of course Smith was going to take a hit like even Tendulkar and Viv but his baseline accomplishments before his dip and all-round record and skill level plus unparalleled peer rating should have meant to me he would have secured himself a place in the highest echelon. Like he still averages 57 and has a good record everywhere but it's almost as if he has maxed out at barely top ten and I can't for the life of me understand why.
Seriously, what the hell?I must respectfully disagree, this poll isn't who was the most effective batsmen, it's who was the best and the greatest.
They don't and he isn't likely to be ranked 8 even.It is because of the competition he is facing. A rank of 7th or 8th of all-time is nothing to be frowned. Why are you so worried that it is 8 and not 6. 8 is not bad. Everyone above him so far does deserve to be ranked above him.
He is well into the lead for the 8th spot.They don't and he isn't likely to be ranked 8 even.