HouHsiaoHsien
International Debutant
Smith’s rating has dropped quite a bit
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Richards, Smith, Lara, Hammond
- Thread starter kyear2
- Start date
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
Where's that one??
HouHsiaoHsien
International Debutant
I mean generally, a year back there was consensus that if he maintained till 58ish average till 115-120 tests, he would be probably the best contender for best after Bradman. Now i would clearly rate atleast Tendulkar and Hobbs ahead
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
I think the key word was "if", because that 'if' would suggest no decline in his scoring towards the end of his career, which frankly is very rare. A decline is in place and he is having a tough case to be ahead of Sachin and Hobbs.
PlayerComparisons
International Vice-Captain
Smith will end up around Gavaskar level
kyear2
International Coach
Not a chance.
subshakerz
Hall of Fame Member
No. This is an extreme overreaction by this board. He is the best bat of this era by a mile and belongs in the top tier.
subshakerz
Hall of Fame Member
Smith is part of the Tendulkar/Sobers/Hobbs/Viv bunch of the best of their eras and even decline from now won't change that.
PlayerComparisons
International Vice-Captain
Would he be the best by a mile in other eras though?
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
I agree, and also believe Gavaskar is in that tier, so doesn't disagree with PC also.
subshakerz
Hall of Fame Member
subshakerz
Hall of Fame Member
Fair enough but there was a clear gulf between Viv and Gavaskar when they played.
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kyear2
International Coach
Have never heard anyone place Gavaskar up there, in fact B. Richards was seen as the best batsman post Sobers and pre V. Richards
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
We had this discussion many times before already I believe. Also, haven't you seen PFK?? Also, debatable really. Graeme Pollock has a case better than Barry and was rated accordingly.
PlayerComparisons
International Vice-Captain
Doesn’t Sobers rate Gavaskar as the best batsman he’s seen?
kyear2
International Coach
Barry was seen as the no. 1 batsman by many during the early 70's prior to Viv's ascent.
And literally no one takes PFKs ratings seriously.
HouHsiaoHsien
International Debutant
Just think Gavaskar never proved himself on fast and bouncy pitches. Also England record outside one tour is poor. Viv was far superior r in Eng and Aus, and tho Gavaskar was better vs spin, Viv proved himself against Qadir, Qasim in the 1980 series vs Pak when he was superior to all the other batsmen, and he had a great series vs the quartet in WI, on some spin friendly pitches. Also Viv’s SR meant he had to the ability to change the game much faster than Sunny
HouHsiaoHsien
International Debutant
He was speaking at some Mumbai convention, so that may have motivated his answer. Also these options can get a little weird. For example Imran Khan rates Virat ahead of Sachin
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
Yeah, but many also viewed Pollock as the best.
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
Gavaskar had taken centuries of peak Thomson in Perth and Adelaide; and he also has a very highly rated 66 in Kingston vs Holding. Overall, against high pace his only proper failings was 83 WI tour (85 Aus wasn't much tougher to bat than his previous or successive tour, Lillee only took him once legally and well I don't think a 70 in a 3 match series is good but not what I would extremely poor or a tangible sample size also, overall I think 79 was the bigger challenge); but imo he has done enough against the WI pacers to doubt his skill there. Not to mention, most matches weren't even in such bouncy tracks. Viv's SR is balanced in my book by Gavaskar's opening, his first two England series were pretty bad but 78 was ATG so I think he is also proven there and Viv's record in England is balanced by Gavaskar's in Pakistan.