Is Ponting closer to Lara or Dravid?

[PlayerComparisons]

What's Smith average since the start of the live pitch era?

48.82 since the start of 2018

 

[kyear2]

48.82 since the start of 2018

Considering that this includes his disastrous trip up to the top, that isn't so bad is it?

 

[centurymaker]

Considering that this includes his disastrous trip up to the top, that isn't so bad is it?

In the last 5 years since Ashes 2019, his numbers are quite mediocre.

Averages 43.74, including just 6 tons from 71 innings.

Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

This period of 41 Tests makes up almost 40% of Steve Smith's whole test career.

 

[kyear2]

In the last 5 years since Ashes 2019, his numbers are quite mediocre.

Averages 43.74, including just 6 tons from 71 innings.

Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

This period of 41 Test Matches makes up almost 40% of Steve Smith's whole test career!

This winter will have a large part to play towards his final legacy. A big couple of tours and a lot of this is forgotten, but he has to get it done.

But to completely drop out of that top tier after where was being placed recently is a lot.

I personally think he's still there, even if lower in that tier.

 

[Johan]

Tier 1 – Lara/Viv/Tendulkar/Smith/Hutton/Sobers

Tier 1.5 – Ponting/Gavaskar/Chappel

Tier 2 – Sangakkara/Kallis/Dravid

that's how it goes imo

 

[capt_Luffy]

Yeah that's for sure. The question is whether he is a tier below Lara or not.

Nooooopppppeeeeee

 

[subshakerz]

is it time for Steve Smith to get booted from that top tier? His run is over. He will finish with a pontingesque brown patch with no where near 40 centuries.

Tendulkar had a run of 23 poor tests in his tailend but that didn't change his top tier status. Viv had similar.

This board is quite fickle.

 

[subshakerz]

In the last 5 years since Ashes 2019, his numbers are quite mediocre.

Averages 43.74, including just 6 tons from 71 innings.

Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

This period of 41 Tests makes up almost 40% of Steve Smith's whole test career.

As a post-peak that is quite respectable. Both Ponting, Viv and Tendulkar also dipped below that.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

is it time for Steve Smith to get booted from that top tier? His run is over. He will finish with a pontingesque brown patch with no where near 40 centuries.

Smith shouldn't have been put in the very top tier anyhow. Insane peak but didn't have the longevity of the top tier greats to merit the "best after Bradman" praise he was getting. His final standing in the pantheon will depend on whether he has a late-career renaissance still to come.

It does go to show that we shouldn't get carried away as much as we do by crazy purple patches as they happen, or at least we shouldn't presume that the player will just continue at that level. Wait to the end of players' careers to evaluate them soberly and fairly against greats of the past.

Now excuse me while I go vote for Root in the Root vs Ponting thread.

 

[centurymaker]

This winter will have a large part to play towards his final legacy. A big couple of tours and a lot of this is forgotten, but he has to get it done.

But to completely drop out of that top tier after where was being placed recently is a lot.

I personally think he's still there, even if lower in that tier.

I never had him in tier 1. Just a rung below with Ponting/Kallis etc.

 

[kyear2]

I never had him in tier 1. Just a rung below with Ponting/Kallis etc.

So even with his average and the India and England tours?

I thought the best after Bradman bit was overplayed, but still top tier.

 

[capt_Luffy]

That, imo is toxic nostalgia

 

[kyear2]

Nooooopppppeeeeee

You think Ponting is in the same tier as Lara?

 

[capt_Luffy]

You think Ponting is in the same tier as Lara?

Over my dead body and in his wet dreams

 

[kyear2]

Over my dead body and in his wet dreams

Then why the nopeee?

Unless you meant multiple tiers?

 

[capt_Luffy]

Then why the nopeee?

Unless you meant multiple tiers?

The Nooooopppppeeeeee (not nopeee) is for Ponting and Dravid being in separate tiers.

 

[centurymaker]

So even with his average and the India and England tours?

I thought the best after Bradman bit was overplayed, but still top tier.

Because by then (Ashes), he had only played around 65 tests. Root in comparison has now played 145 tests. At least we know his numbers are legit given the sample size.

 

[a massive zebra]

There's the tier of the Gods

Bradman, Tendulkar, Sobers, Richards, Hobbs, Smith, Lara, Hutton (Richards)

Then for me

Chappell, Gavaskar, Ponting, Kallis, Hammond, Headley, Border, Pollock

Then there's the tier with

Dravid, Sangakkara, Sutcliffe, Waugh, Root Weekes, Smith etc etc

So the shortest answer is right in the middle

If I had to choose, and going on quality as the poll specifies, closer to BCL and co.

Gavaskar and Sangakkara should be a tier higher and Steve Smith a tier lower imo. Who is the Smith in your last tier, Graeme?

 

[centurymaker]

So even with his average and the India and England tours?

I thought the best after Bradman bit was overplayed, but still top tier.

We keep referring to Smith's India 17 tour but his 2023 tour was atrocious and he looked all at sea. If he ends up touring again in 2027, his India numbers could likely take another hit. What I am saying is that people judge players definitively too soon. Peak performances can mislead us into thinking the player is good enough to do 'ABCDEFGH' over their career but they might only be able to do 'ABCD' over the majority of their career. Only for few years they could do 'EFGH' as well.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Then why the nopeee?

Unless you meant multiple tiers?

Ponting and Dravid ...... Not Lara