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The ATG Teams General arguing/discussing thread
- Thread starter Red
- Start date
Ah yeah, I don't put Smith ahead of Border, Waugh or Ponting. Smith's legacy will be a great #4 who was then dropped after failing as a below average opener
That's why I have both
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
If Sutcliffe and Boycott open together, it would be a very slow partnership. Have to think about the scoring rate as well.
Coronis
International Coach
And Macartney is seriously your next choice? Bloke averages 35 as an opener with half his runs in 1/9 innings, and 70% of his runs in the one match.
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
I don't think Pre WWI opening and batting in the middle order was much different. As far as I have read, up until the 70s MaCartney was considered the 3rd best Aussie bat and his career trajectory, beginning as a bowling allrounder is probably quite similar to the likes of Smith and Jayasuriya.
No way was he ever considered 3rd best bat up to the 70's. Ponsford, Morris, Bradman, Hill, Trumper, Harvey all considered above him and even a young Dougie Walters was ahead of him by 1970
Coronis
International Coach
Put Clem Hill in there then. Macartney literally averaged 26 with the bat pre war.
PlayerComparisons
International Vice-Captain
Yea Ponting > Smith.
Ponting averaged like 60 after 110 tests while batting higher up at #3 and had tougher home pitches and scored quicker too.
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
Yeah, but for majority of that period he was a bowling allrounder, almost picked for bowling exclusively in the first two series.
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
Actually it was. Neville Cardus even included him in his 20th Century World XI ahead of the likes of Hammond and Headley. Not saying he is better than Harvey and Hill, but he was rated so.
Coronis
International Coach
So he wasn’t a good batsman for the majority of his career so you’ll also pick him in a position he wasn’t good in? Over actual established openers with far better records? Based purely on strike rate?
ffs
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
His career was interrupted by War at the worst time and his record post War was great.
Coronis
International Coach
He opened twice post war and didn’t do ****. You’re better off choosing Afridi to open.
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
That's a bit of a too big stretch and you know it. As I have read, he really liked to open but Australia preferred him not to due to his risk taking nature. He opened plenty in FC as well.
kyear2
International Coach
Struggling to understand how Border doesn't make an Aussie AT XI
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Guess he's gone Bradman/Chappell/Smith/Miller.
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
Bradman - Chappell - Smith - Miller
kyear2
International Coach
One of them has to make it.
kyear2
International Coach
England's middle order is weaker and lacks pace outside of Trueman. Australia has none of those weaknesses.
Bradman, Smith, Chappell, Border is more than good enough. Imo of course.