The ATG Teams General arguing/discussing thread

[mr_mister]

It's pretty obvious Smith will end up number 2.

 

[Coronis]

Until Smith scores runs in Bangladesh I don’t rate the bloke.

 

[jimmy101]

For those of you who think Smith is better than Lara, can you tell me what it was like when you woke up in the hospital bed after being lobotomized?

 

[mr_mister]

Call it a prediction if you want. But I think it's safe money

He's already proved a gazillion skeptics wrong when he came back after his ban to do the magic we've witnessed his last few tests.

His matches to centuries rate is fast becoming ridiculous

 

[TheJediBrah]

For those of you who think Smith is better than Lara, can you tell me what it was like when you woke up in the hospital bed after being lobotomized?

bit of dumb thing to say

It's fine to think that Lara was better (for whatever reason) but implying that those who don't have an issue with their brains? Really?

 

[Chrish]

Lol. Smith is better than Lara.

Bradman and Smith give the Southern hemisphere two batsmen who are better than any from the northern hemisphere. .

Do you honestly believe this or are you just trolling?

 

[jimmy101]

bit of dumb thing to say

It's fine to think that Lara was better (for whatever reason) but implying that those who don't have an issue with their brains? Really?

Just trolling.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Having a definite opinion either way at this stage is a bit short-sighted IMO

 

[jimmy101]

I will admit that (imo) Smith is already an ATG, even if he were to somehow turn into Rob Quiney overnight. His performance in the current Ashes series is the stuff of legend.

 

[Burgey]

For those of you who think Smith is better than Lara, can you tell me what it was like when you woke up in the hospital bed after being lobotomized?

It was like watching a bloke average 10-12 more per dig than Lara, and seeing him do it everywhere.

So it was pretty good, really. Though Lara was still a better watch. Was always box office.

 

[kyear2]

Steve Smith is a great batsman. Top 20 already. Possibly even higher, but come on.

1. He isn't finished. Viv, Ponting and others all had drop offs later in their careers, and Viv especially for reasons I will soon discuss.

2. Runs are runs, but Hutton broke Bradman's record with the great man at mid off while facing an O'Reilly marathon. Can't back after the war and his horrific injury and faced Lindwall and Miller who had the new ball every 60? overs. And this is loosing. Major chunk of his prime to the war.
Lara and Tendulkar faced off against Wasim, Donald, Warne, McGrath, Murali etc.
Viv had to face The quartet in India, Hadlee, Lillee, Imran et Al. Sobers scored his greatest innings vs a young rampaging Lillee and had to contend with Trueman, Benaud, Davidson etc.
Besides Steyn, who did this era have? Anderson and the Indian spinners at home are good, even very good, but does it quite measure up the the guys mentioned above?

3. Like Viv, he has a magnificent eye, but less that perfect / different technique. When his eye starts to go, unlike Sachin, he wouldn't have that perfect technique to rely on.

I am not reading him down. I also watched an unbelievable test series performance, but he's being appointed best after Bradman, ever. And growing up watching Richards, Lara, Sachin and reading about and seeing Hutton and Sobers (the seeing in particular) I personally can't place Smith above them, at least not yet.

 

[mr_mister]

Everyone says that plenty of batsman had a start to their career like Smith before tapering off, but come on.

No-one averaged 64.8 after 67 tests

He's a level above

 

[jimmy101]

Don't forget that the international schedule has mushroomed considerably since the 80's.

 

[Chrish]

I am pretty sure these “best since Bradman” or “level above everyone” etc arguments must have come up before when Ponting was scoring hundreds and double hundreds for fun on this board.

ICF to dig up those old threads but it’s not the first time when current player gets hyped up due to recency bias..

 

[ankitj]

To compare Smith with greats of past is disservice. To Smith. Let's watch and marvel at this latest run machine while he is still playing cricket. We can leave comparisons for later.

 

[Slifer]

Everyone says that plenty of batsman had a start to their career like Smith before tapering off, but come on.

No-one averaged 64.8 after 67 tests

He's a level above

After 70 tests, Sobers averaged 62.4 with 21 hundreds and 25 fifties. 60.04 after 82 tests. Hammond 61.5 after 75 tests with 21 hundreds and 22 fifties. So close enough. Maybe yeah we should wait til Smith's career ends before passing judgment

 

[TheJediBrah]

Smith has averaged something like 75 since coming back into the team as a specialist batsman though. It's probably one reason why he's rated that highly. And he's done it everywhere, averages more away than at home IIRC

 

[Slifer]

Smith averages 77 at home and 57 away. Huh ?? If you mean since coming in as a specialist batsman then ok....

 

[mr_mister]

Yeah. I know Sobers was an all rounder too but Smith literally started as a bowling all rounder batting at 8

His record as a top 5 bat is around 75

 

[Slifer]

You won't get any arguments from me as far as Smith's prowess is concerned. But we should wait to fully judge until his career is near its end. One things for sure, he's far and away the best batsman atm