FaaipDeOiad
Hall of Fame Member
I don't think all that highly of Smith, but I don't think he's complete rubbish either like some people here seem to, I more consider him talented but not completely proven yet. Kirsten was a very good, gritty player, and did very well despite his faults. I put him in a similar sort of category to Mark Taylor, as some who was far from flawless but has excellent mental toughness and had a good career regardless. A slightly better player than Taylor, though.
Certainly far more proven than Smith is right now, given that Smith hasn't faced Australia aside from his first test and as such hasn't faced a really excellent pace attack, which Kirsten did many times. If he runs into McGrath, Gillespie and Kasprowicz/Lee (not to mention Warne) at the end of this year and does well, maybe then a claim can be made that he is better than Kirsten.
Certainly far more proven than Smith is right now, given that Smith hasn't faced Australia aside from his first test and as such hasn't faced a really excellent pace attack, which Kirsten did many times. If he runs into McGrath, Gillespie and Kasprowicz/Lee (not to mention Warne) at the end of this year and does well, maybe then a claim can be made that he is better than Kirsten.