Hashim Amla vs Graeme Smith

[PlayerComparisons]

Two modern SA greats

 

[BazBall21]

Amla is a very clear-cut winner here. He did better against Australia. He did better in Asia. He averaged more than Smith when he was the same age as Smith's retiring age, despite less padding against the uncompetitive bowling sides of his time. He has a much better record than Smith in relatively low-scoring games. This was all whilst being a no3 too, which heavily reduces Smith's disadvantage as an opener.

Amla eventually averaged a bit less than Smith because his natural decline coincided with a very tough batting era which exaceprated the hit his numbers took. Smith did not suffer this fate.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Tough one. Smith did have the harder batting position and a better strike rate tho.

 

[Patience and Accuracy+Gut]

Amla. Had a Kohliesque decline in the end but was on verge of being ATG before that.

 

[sayon basak]

Graeme Smith

 

[Johan]

Amla.

better in Australia and India by far, better and more respectable home record, isn't far off in England at all.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Amla was better for me. The only reason Smith has a better looking overall average is because he retired early and Amla had a pretty prolonged decline in a bowler friendly era. Amla peaked higher too... from 2008 to 2014 or so, he was probably the most complete all conditions batsman in the world and was SA's most impactful batsman in virtually all their big away wins during that time. Smith was terrific but had way more obvious deficiencies as a batsman.

 

[DrWolverine]

Amla


Smith

 

[DrWolverine]

For reference