Younis Khan vs Graeme Smith

[capt_Luffy]

We’re not comparing him to Kallis or ABD lol. Kallis is a tier above Smith and ABD is clearly better than Smith as well.

Well, I agree with those and also think ABD and Younis are very close.

 

[BazBall21]

I meant to Yousuf's overall record, not in SENA particularly. I have a problem with PC's notion that weakness vs pace means SENA record is misleading. Younis was mentally very strong. A misleading record for me is when someone gets their average boosted by many not outs, cashes on weak attacks on easy conditions almost solely and lacks any impact.

Younis made the most of his limitations v seam in a batting era. Very gutsy player. His strategy was to see out good pacers and target spinners (whom he was ruthless against) and weaker pacers.

In an era where quality pace is more prominent, this strategy is less successful because your scoring outlets are reduced and you're also having to survive more nuts. His tons outside Asia (with the exception of Newlands 2013 which imo is his finest knock) convey his ability to capitalise on favourable decks and v weaker attacks, but not so much his ability to succeed against quality pace and on tough pace-oriented tracks etc.

I think in Babar Azam's time for instance, his record outside Asia would take a hefty hit. Not that Babar is better, just an example of a tougher batting period.

In this comparison, I rate Smith as slightly higher quality. I agree that Smith's home record does go a little under-scrutinised; but having significantly tougher home conditions than who he's being compared to is still valid context.

I like Younis' reliability at going big and setting games up in favoured conditions when he gets in; that's very valuable in test cricket. But Smith was a beast at that too.

 

[subshakerz]

Younis was a much better player of spin. I don't think he was particularly weak against pace or lateral movement either, just more circumspect.

Younis excelled in Australia and India where Smith faltered somewhat. Yeah not great in SA but Smith also didn't do great in his home country. They both were fine in 4th innings knocks.

I don't see any real notable advantage that Smith has over Younis.

 

[shortpitched713]

Very close, as it should be, imo.

 

[shortpitched713]

Younis was a much better player of spin. I don't think he was particularly weak against pace or lateral movement either, just more circumspect.

Younis excelled in Australia and India where Smith faltered somewhat. Yeah not great in SA but Smith also didn't do great in his home country. They both were fine in 4th innings knocks.

I don't see any real notable advantage that Smith has over Younis.

Opener tax

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Younis was a much better player of spin. I don't think he was particularly weak against pace or lateral movement either, just more circumspect.

Younis excelled in Australia and India where Smith faltered somewhat. Yeah not great in SA but Smith also didn't do great in his home country. They both were fine in 4th innings knocks.

I don't see any real notable advantage that Smith has over Younis.

Younis was similar to Sehwag on pace friendly pitches. He was much better than Sehwag on flat pitches though and more ruthless against spin as well which is why he has a much better record.

 

[subshakerz]

Younis was similar to Sehwag on pace friendly pitches. He was much better than Sehwag on flat pitches though and more ruthless against spin as well which is why he has a much better record.

I am not sure I agree with this.

 

[capt_Luffy]

I am not sure I agree with this.

I somehow disagree with all the three statements simultaneously....

 

[CricketFan90s]

2010s

GC Smith (SA)

2010-2014

38

66

4

2814

234

45.38

4878

57.68

9

12

1

329

6

Younis Khan (PAK)

2010-2017

55

101

12

4839

218

54.37

9586

50.47

18

12

7

444

46

2000s

GC Smith (ICC/SA)

2002-2009

79

139

9

6451

277

49.62

10647

60.58

18

26

10

836

18

Younis Khan (PAK)

2000-2009

63

112

7

5260

313

50.09

9789

53.73

16

21

12

638

24

Younis Khan ≥ Graeme Smith

 

[BazBall21]

Younis was a much better player of spin. I don't think he was particularly weak against pace or lateral movement either, just more circumspect.

Younis excelled in Australia and India where Smith faltered somewhat. Yeah not great in SA but Smith also didn't do great in his home country. They both were fine in 4th innings knocks.

I don't see any real notable advantage that Smith has over Younis.

Younis did play some decent knocks on the 2004 Aus tour. His hundred there came on the slowest track (SCG). I wouldn't say he excelled in Australian conditions, but did decently within his means.

I would take Smith over YK in Australia without having to think about it much, but would obviously take Younis in the SC.

 

[subshakerz]

Younis did play some decent knocks on the 2004 Aus tour. His hundred there came on the slowest track (SCG). I wouldn't say he excelled in Australian conditions, but did decently within his means.

I would take Smith over YK in Australia without having to think about it much, but would obviously take Younis in the SC.

I mean, Smith scoring tours to Australia came in extremely batting friendly conditions and he flopped against McWarne unlike Younis. Its almost like we know Younis did better but feel Smith would do better?

 

[subshakerz]

I think Smith would average 50+ pretty easily with Younis’s home conditions. Younis’s overseas record is misleading as well since he was poor against lateral movement as well as pace and bounce.

It’s definitely close

Where is the evidence for this though?

 

[BazBall21]

I mean, Smith scoring tours to Australia came in extremely batting friendly conditions and he flopped against McWarne unlike Younis. Its almost like we know Younis did better but feel Smith would do better?

Yeah I'm not saying Graeme Smith is some superhero in Australia, his overall record against them is part of why I don't rate him as high as some people do.

But I would take him over Younis in Australia. Smith did have two good tours out of three there, and opening v McGrath in the first one was the ultimate challenge even on flatter decks. It's not as though Younis had comparatively great success v McGrath.

In India (which you also referenced) - Smith can't stand up to YK there.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Yeah I'm not saying Graeme Smith is some superhero in Australia, his overall record against them is part of why I don't rate him as high as some people do.

But I would take him over Younis in Australia. Smith did have two good tours out of three there, and opening v McGrath in the first one was the ultimate challenge even on flatter decks. It's not as though Younis had comparatively great success v McGrath.

In India (which you also referenced) - Smith can't stand up to YK there.

Smith's record vs teams in SA:

Australia: 11 matches, 490 @25.78
New Zealand: 7 matches, 275 @27.50
Sri Lanka: 5 matches, 206 @29.52
Pakistan: 8 matches, 476 @36.61
India: 8 matches, 556 @39.61
England: 9 matches, 696 @43.5

If those were his away no.s, a lot of people won't even consider him better than Rohit Sharma.

 

[BazBall21]

On the point about Smith's conditions in Australia, yeah when people talk about how batsman-friendly the England and Australia tours were when referencing Dale Steyn, that is context for the SAF batters of the time also.

I just don't think Younis is more proven in bowler-friendly English and Australian conditions, and Smith did have to open.

Younis' hundred outside Asia that didn't either come v a poor attack or on a favourable flat/slow pitch was Newlands (2013) - his best performance imo. Smith not being great at home does work against him, but Younis wouldn't suit opening in SAF at all. Smith wasn't as good v spin as YK but would thrive in Pak/UAE.

 

[BazBall21]

Smith's record vs teams in SA:

Australia: 11 matches, 490 @25.78
New Zealand: 7 matches, 275 @27.50
Sri Lanka: 5 matches, 206 @29.52
Pakistan: 8 matches, 476 @36.61
India: 8 matches, 556 @39.61
England: 9 matches, 696 @43.5

If those were his away no.s, a lot of people won't even consider him better than Rohit Sharma.

Have already mentioned that his home record is a little under-scrutinised. Kirsten did better at home and batted in a tougher era.

 

[number11]

Smith opens which is harder but purely as a bat Younis Khan was better. That said, Smith makes more XIs as the number of great openers is very small.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Yeah Smith wasn’t some great player of pace either which is why I think this is a close comparison

I agree that Younis is criminally underrated outside of this forum