• Welcome to the Cricket Web forums, one of the biggest forums in the world dedicated to cricket.

    You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Cricket Web community today!

    If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

Steven Smith vs Viv Richards

Smith vs Richards


  • Total voters
    24

Johan

International Debutant
Does it even need to be explained? Just check the stats. This guy averaged near 80. And he did in the modern game, against objectively the highest level that has ever been in cricket so far. Just dominated series, nothing fragiled him.

Insane how one can even say Peak Smith doesn’t have an argument over Viv. He was better imho and tbh very clearly better at least as far as I am concerned.
Peak Smith being better than Peak Viv is a fine take overall to have (I'll argue against it) and but his decline is even steeper, Viv was still a beast until early 1989 whereas Smith has done nothing since Ashes 2019 bar a good WTC final knock against a Bumrahless India, if he plays for as long as Viv did, he won't even average 50 honestly seeing how he is falling
 

PlayerComparisons

International Vice-Captain
Peak Smith being better than Peak Viv is a fine take overall to have (I'll argue against it) and but his decline is even steeper, Viv was still a beast until early 1989 whereas Smith has done nothing since Ashes 2019 bar a good WTC final knock against a Bumrahless India, if he plays for as long as Viv did, he won't even average 50 honestly seeing how he is falling
Smith does average around 50+ from 2021-2023 tbf.

If he plays till 2027/2028, I think he will retire with a low 50s average.
 

DrWolverine

State Regular
Peak Smith being better is a fine take overall but his decline is even steeper, Viv was still a beast until early 1989 whereas Smith has done nothing since Ashes 2019 bar a good WTC final knock against a Bumrahless India, if he plays for as long as Viv did, he won't even average 50 honestly seeing how he is falling
Smith’s decline isn’t really that bad.

2024 is his worst year. But 2021-20023 was good.

2021 - 5 Tests. 430 runs @ 53.75. 1 ton.

2022 - 11 Tests. 876 runs @ 58.4. 2 tons.

2023 - 13 Tests. 929 runs @42.23. 3 tons.
 

Johan

International Debutant
Smith is better than Viv “I scored 25% of my runs in one year” Richards
24 hundreds in 121 tests
Excluding that one year, 17 in 110

Man was a Dravid level bat at best with AuRaZ
"I'll exclude the ATG year! Hah! let's see how he stacks up then!"

Viv from 79-88 averaged 50+ anyway over 75-76 tests, Dravid doesn't belong in this convo lol.
 
Last edited:

Johan

International Debutant
Smith’s decline isn’t really that bad.

2024 is his worst year. But 2021-20023 is good.

2021 - 5 Tests. 430 runs @ 53.75. 1 ton.

2022 - 11 Tests. 876 runs @ 58.4. 2 tons.

2023 - 13 Tests. 929 runs @42.23. 3 tons.
he averages 42 odd since Ashes 2019, which includes his 200* on an extreme flattie against Windies, post-prime Viv was better.

all you've to do is bowl an offcutter with pace to him these days, he'll either miss and get LBWed or nick it to the keeper.
 

Coronis

International Coach
I prefer 5 calendar years. Who wins with that measurement?
Hmm. 5 calendar years for Viv would probs be 76, 77, 78, 79, 80

30 tests 46 innings 3158 @ 70.17 10 tons 15 fifties

For Smith.. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 probs just beats out 15-19

48 tests 86 innings 5229 @ 71.63 21 tons 19 fifties

If you want 5 best calendar years over a career thats a whole different discussion. Could be a fun side distraction for me at some point though.
 
Last edited:

DrWolverine

State Regular
If you want 5 best calendar years over a career thats a whole different discussion.
Ponting(2002-2006)
57 Tests. 99 inn. 6141 runs @ 72.25. 24 tons.

Sanga(2006-2010)
41 Tests. 69 inn. 4422 runs @ 71.32. 16 tons.

Bradman(1928-1932)
20 Tests. 28 inn. 2798 runs @ 112. 13 tons.
 

Coronis

International Coach
Ponting(2002-2006)
57 Tests. 99 inn. 6141 runs @ 72.25. 24 tons.

Sanga(2006-2010)
41 Tests. 69 inn. 4422 runs @ 71.32. 16 tons.

Bradman(1928-1932)
20 Tests. 28 inn. 2798 runs @ 112. 13 tons.
I mean thats not what I said but yeah.
 

Sliferxxxx

School Boy/Girl Cricketer
Does it even need to be explained? Just check the stats. This guy averaged near 80. And he did in the modern game, against objectively the highest level that has ever been in cricket so far. Just dominated series, nothing fragiled him.

Insane how one can even say Peak Smith doesn’t have an argument over Viv. He was better imho and tbh very clearly better at least as far as I am concerned.
I can accept Smith being above Viv. But highest level of what exactly? Bowling? Because if that's your contention, that's patently false. The highest level of bowling was in the 90s.
 

Top