Who is the best since Bradman?

[DrWolverine]

Kane Williamson ahead of Steven Smith?

 

[centurymaker]

Tbf the difference between Root and Smith is not a lot anymore. If Root has a couple of great series vs top teams, including in Aus, he'd be on par or close to on par with Smith imo.

Plus he'd then be odds on favourite to become the all time runs leader, (to go with a nice balanced record all around the world). His legacy will get a massive boost- holding a WR as well as having a good record everywhere. So yeah it's not even certain yet who finishes as the best of the generation.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Imagine if Root scores two tons in Australia and gets closer to the all-time run tally, while Smith has another below par Ashes series .

Suddenly the narrative will be is Root the best player of the generation? given he no longer has any holes in his record and has performed more consistently..

Root: 14,000 runs, 40-41 tons, career avg 51-52 in relatively tougher conditions vs...

Smith: 10,800 runs, 37 tons, avg 54-55 in relatively flatter Aussie conditions (mostly).

Tbf if that happens, they certainly will come a bit more closer. How much is the question here really.

 

[centurymaker]

@PlayerComparisons we are making the assumption that he does really well in Aus and continues to perform like he has done in recent years. And while Smith does okay overall. Ofcourse narratives will shift.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

I would agree with that actually. It’s a big if tho.

 

[centurymaker]

These things happened with previous generation legends too. They moved up and down in rankings for the best of the generation, even in later stages of their career.

 

[DrWolverine]

These things happened with previous generation legends too. They moved up and down in rankings for the best of the generation, even in later stages of their career.

In 1990s Andy Roberts was considered one of the best ever and much better bowler than Joel Garner.

 

[Johan]

Still way better than some of the other sites imo.

agree

 

[Coronis]

Interesting how perspective changes over time on this site. It wasn’t really long ago when Smith was considered bona fide second best batsman by even some regulars on here.

Its really crazy how warped the perception of a player can get on here based on a single series, or even match. I still remember when Kohli broke his drought of centuries people claiming he was on the rise and Smith was done for. I’m sure people are calling Kamindu a hack rn.

 

[subshakerz]

Its really crazy how warped the perception of a player can get on here based on a single series, or even match. I still remember when Kohli broke his drought of centuries people claiming he was on the rise and Smith was done for. I’m sure people are calling Kamindu a hack rn.

Kohli did have a good year in 2023. It was a false dawn. Nobody thought he was catching up with Smith really.

 

[Coronis]

In 1990s Andy Roberts was considered one of the best ever and much better bowler than Joel Garner.

People were idiots in the 90’s. They thought Wasim was the best bowler of their decade.

 

[subshakerz]

People were idiots in the 90’s. They thought Wasim was the best bowler of their decade.

Why is that opinion idiotic?

 

[govinda indian fan]

Steven Smith is one of the top contenders to being the best batsman since Don and has a perfect record.

30 in Ban and 30 vs Ban
41 in SA and 45 vs SA
50 in Ind and 59 vs Ind
52 in NZ and 47.5 vs NZ
55 in Eng and 56 vs Eng
56 in Pak and 51 vs Pak
60 in SL and 60 vs SL
141 in WI and 125 vs Ban
59 in Aus

*58 vs india

 

[Coronis]

Why is that opinion idiotic?

Oh sorry I know that won’t mean much to you

 

[govinda indian fan]

Imagine if Root scores two tons in Australia and gets closer to the all-time run tally, while Smith has another below par Ashes series .

Suddenly the narrative will be is Root the best player of the generation? given he no longer has any holes in his record and has performed more consistently..

Root: 14,000 runs, 40-41 tons, career avg 51-52 in relatively tougher conditions vs...

Smith: 10,800 runs, 37 tons, avg 54-55 in relatively flatter Aussie conditions (mostly).

But for us indian fans (sensible ones like in this fourm not idiots on insta and twitter)sure we would rate smith higher then root because sheer fear we got whenever he came to bat vs us

 

[govinda indian fan]

People were idiots in the 90’s. They thought Wasim was the best bowler of their decade.

Imo before coming to this site genuinely thought wasim as greatest fast bowler after marshall and waqar>>>imran

 

[Coronis]

Imo before coming to this site genuinely thought wasim as greatest fast bowler after marshell and waqar>>>imran

And now ahead of Marshall right?

 

[DrWolverine]

Wasim Akram has the greatest discrepancy between peer reputation and the actual numbers/performances.

 

[subshakerz]

Wasim Akram has the greatest discrepancy between peer reputation and the actual numbers/performances.

I get that but in the 90s he had genuine great numbers comparable with Ambrose and others, even if one wants to argue the others are a bit better. In his peaks he took 240 wickets in 48 tests@20. So anyone rating him the bowler of the decade isn't guilty of some misguidance per se.

 

[govinda indian fan]

And now ahead of Marshall right?

No below bumrah lol to be fair
Marshall
Hadlee
McGrath
Ambrose
Styen
Imran
Wasim
Hopefully bumrah crosses akram imran and styen by end of his career and becomes top 5 fast bowler