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Steve Smith reclaims No.1 Test ranking from Virat Kohli

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Abdullah719

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Australia's Steve Smith is back at No.1 on the MRF Tyres ICC Test Rankings for Batsmen after India captain Virat Kohli slipped to No.2, following his first-ball duck in Jamaica.

Kohli's side are top of the ICC Test Championship with two wins in as many games, and the captain himself overtook MS Dhoni to be India's most successful Test skipper. However, having made 76 in the first innings against West Indies, he edged his first ball from Kemar Roach in the second innings to the wicket-keeper. After three Tests this year, he is yet to add to his 25 Test hundreds.

That allowed Smith, who missed the third Test at Headingley, to open up a single-point lead in the rankings announced on Tuesday, 3 September. He has a chance to extend that lead in the fourth Ashes Test, starting Wednesday.

Smith was on the top spot his since December 2015. It was only in August 2018, when Smith was serving a ban for his role in the Newlands ball-tampering scandal, that Kohli overtook him on the charts, after reaching career-high rating points in the series against England.

The Australian No.4 has fought his way back up the charts in his first series back from the ban, making twin centuries in the first Test against England and 92 in the second. He now averages 63.2 in Test cricket.

Kohli's next chance to challenge Smith will be in the home Test series against South Africa, starting on 2 October.

Elsewhere on the batting charts, India's Ajinkya Rahane returned to the top 10, rising four places to No.7, after following up his half-century and hundred in Antigua with another useful half-century in Jamaica. Hanuma Vihari, described by Kohli as "the find of the series", shot up 40 places to No.30 after just six Tests.

Smith-Kohli.jpg


https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1335685
 
So it took smith just 2 games to become 1 again. Truly the best test batsmen of this generation by far too.
 
Just two games and a Virat Kohli golden duck takes Smith to the no.1 spot.

The GOAT
 
smith is the better test batsman, while kohli is the better limited overs batsman.
 
The better batsman ? Doubt it
Current West Indian bowling far stronger than English . Pitches too spicier . Kohli batter very well .. and West Indies was thrashed 2-0 thus far .

Smith was best batsman two years ago but since English tour where Kohli stood up against Anderson - in crazy swinging conditions , I changed my mind

Kohli is the disciplined , cleaner batter . Doesn’t cheat too ...And he is leading the number one team ( batting is weak though !)
 
docteurmanish said:
The better batsman ? Doubt it
Current West Indian bowling far stronger than English . Pitches too spicier . Kohli batter very well .. and West Indies was thrashed 2-0 thus far .

Smith was best batsman two years ago but since English tour where Kohli stood up against Anderson - in crazy swinging conditions , I changed my mind

Kohli is the disciplined , cleaner batter . Doesn’t cheat too ...And he is leading the number one team ( batting is weak though !)
Click to expand...

Lol.

How sour are those grapes? Have some sugar bro 🤣
 
docteurmanish said:
The better batsman ? Doubt it
Current West Indian bowling far stronger than English . Pitches too spicier . Kohli batter very well .. and West Indies was thrashed 2-0 thus far .

Smith was best batsman two years ago but since English tour where Kohli stood up against Anderson - in crazy swinging conditions , I changed my mind

Kohli is the disciplined , cleaner batter . Doesn’t cheat too ...And he is leading the number one team ( batting is weak though !)
Click to expand...

Who cares about cleaner, or more disciplined batting, it's about results and getting the runs. Smith has performed beeter in tests, and his stats highlight that, he averages not 1 or 2 or even 5 above Kohli, but a whole 10 runs. That's a huge difference. And it's not like Smith only performs in Australia, he gets runs everywhere, check his stats.
 
docteurmanish said:
The better batsman ? Doubt it
Current West Indian bowling far stronger than English . Pitches too spicier . Kohli batter very well .. and West Indies was thrashed 2-0 thus far .

Smith was best batsman two years ago but since English tour where Kohli stood up against Anderson - in crazy swinging conditions , I changed my mind

Kohli is the disciplined , cleaner batter . Doesn’t cheat too ...And he is leading the number one team ( batting is weak though !)
Click to expand...

WI bowling due to the conditions were more effective during the months Eng toured WI. The wickets dont have the same pace and bounce now in Aug-Sep so I dont think having image of Eng tour of WI to define WI bowling is correct way to look at it.

Further its not just this series as a test batsman Smith is averaging 60+ for a reason and that is he is much more consistent than anybody else around.
 
Smith is obviously the better test batsman but the gap is less than the difference in averages.

Australian pitches are the flattest pattas in the world, and his average away from them is a more reasonable 54.48.


What Smith is miles better than Kohli is in matches which Australia wins.

Smith is Bradman-esque when Australia wins @ 84.95

Kohli is barely above his career average when India wins @ 56.98.

This obviously means Kohli is much better when India loses than Smith when Australia loses.

That said, you would take the guy who is the match-winner.
 
Smith was a better test bat anyway, deserved it.
All we need is to have 3-4 batsmen in top #10 and 3 bowlers in top #10 to know we are doing well as a team.
The batsmen we have em but only one bowler, hopefully home matches would bring up our bowlers.
 
Matter of time. Kohli may not reach those heights as he is way too much involved in limited overs (except T20) and IPL other things. He will finish with an average of 55 at the best which is pretty good enough. I don't want him to be no.1. I just want him to bat better in 4th innings chases. Getting out to guys like Moeen Ali repeatedly in 4th innings is bad.
 
Smith has always been better than Kohli as far Tests are concerned. Never any doubt.

Similarly Kohli is significantly better than Smith in ODIs despite him not being beastly in knockouts.

T20s there’s no comparison but I doubt either cares
 
Smith scored two hundreds in the two innings of his comeback game and Kohli didn't score as many runs as he would have liked on WI tour.
Smith wasn't too far behind anyways due to less number of tests played after sandgate.
Smith has been better overall as a test batsman. Kohli on the other hand has started performing in tests only since last couple of years.

Next couple of years will be interesting in this regard.
 
Question with Smith is how good will he be in the latter stages of his career.

His unorthodox game depends a lot on freakish hand-eye coordination, and is likelier to fall off the cliff than Kohli's more classical batting.
 
Sin Nombre said:
Question with Smith is how good will he be in the latter stages of his career.

His unorthodox game depends a lot on freakish hand-eye coordination, and is likelier to fall off the cliff than Kohli's more classical batting.
Click to expand...

That's not an important question at all. Smith has already played 66 test matches and won plenty of games for Australia. If he carries this form for another 25-30 matches then he would have played close to 100 games being no:1 test batsman and I couldn't care less what happens after that. 90-100 test matches playing as no:1 batsman is as much greatness as one could achieve in one lifetime.
 
Sin Nombre said:
Question with Smith is how good will he be in the latter stages of his career.

His unorthodox game depends a lot on freakish hand-eye coordination, and is likelier to fall off the cliff than Kohli's more classical batting.
Click to expand...

Punter had great peaks as well. Kohli's problem is he cannot abandon ODI cricket to excel mainly in Tests. He can do if he wants. He has the skill set. But his test performance will take a hit because of this.
 
happydavy said:
That's not an important question at all. Smith has already played 66 test matches and won plenty of games for Australia. If he carries this form for another 25-30 matches then he would have played close to 100 games being no:1 test batsman and I couldn't care less what happens after that. 90-100 test matches playing as no:1 batsman is as much greatness as one could achieve in one lifetime.
Click to expand...

He was nowhere near test #1 in his first few years.

After 20 tests, he was averaging 38.

His peak has been great and has now lasted for 45 tests.
 
Smith vs Archer would be epic! No doubt pacer would bounce him hard.

Would be interesting if Smith will overcome new perceived weakness against 96 mile short-pitch bowling..
 
He is un-getouttable mode. Bit like how Chanderpaul, Kallis, Steve Waugh were difficult to dismiss at their peak.
 
Smith deserves to be #1 in Test and he rightfully got his position back.

Well done.
 
Smith_01.jpg
Soon, the winds took the beach ball to the pitch, specifically near the strikers’ end, where Smith was standing. Seeing this, the

Aussie decided to have some fun and as the ball approached him, he swept the Beach ball towards the mid-wicket boundary, making the crowd go wild in the process.
 
Smith is so much better than Kohli, it is not even funny. He is better than Sachin, Lara, Sangakkara, Waugh, and everyone.

The only man who he can be compared with is unfortunately dead and went by the name Sir Donald Bradman.
 
smith is already now the highest run scorer in tests this year.. ridiculous..
 
Ok how no body comes close to kohli in Odis smith is in a league of his own in tests no comparison no one even comes close
 
[MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION] what do you think of Smith? How do you rate him?
 
After getting hit by Archer and getting a concussion causing him to sit out 3 innings, Steve Smith has returned with a bang, hitting a double century. He's currently 201* (312). Surely he's the best in the world by a long way.
 
This guy is insane. Absolutely incredible.

He has more runs in Tests this year than anyone else. And he’s played only 4 innings.
 
Smith is heading on its way to become one of the greatest test bats of all-time.

Unlike a Brian Lara, he scores his runs when the series is alive and changes the course of the game as well.

He has been a standout contributor to pretty much all of Australia's victory in last three Ashes.

His 140 odd in Brisbane 2017 was the inning that made the difference leading to Australia's victory and England's loss. The result would have been the other way around if he got out to 70-80 in that match and it has been the case all through this series as well. He had significant contributions in the two wins in England last time as well.

In India, he has been the most successful batters from all the opposition teams that toured India all through the home season. There were the likes of de Villiers or Root who got some runs in those series but Smith's performance was head & shoulders ahead of everyone else among opposition batsmen as far as the home season is concerned.
 
So it took this guy half a test series to become no. 1 in test. And he had 500+ runs in just 4 innings and was still the highest scorer of the series.

Ridiculous.
 
ARK Rafay said:
So it took this guy half a test series to become no. 1 in test. And he had 500+ runs in just 4 innings and was still the highest scorer of the series.

Ridiculous.
Click to expand...
Actually it's 589 runs that means nearly 600 runs in 4 innings
 
Joseph Gomes said:
Another 50 for Smith
Click to expand...

Lol not only is he making Runs he’s the only one doing so. The match situation and context seems to have no impact

Aussie batting lineup is a shambles without him.
 
293 runs in the Test match, 2 weeks after suffering a concussion. AND he gave his wicket away looking for quick runs on both occasions.

England have really only “legitimately” dismissed Smith once in this series - when he nicked off against Woakes in the 2nd innings at Edgbaston. 3 out of the other 4 occasions he was out slogging whilst looking for quick runs, and the 4th occasion was when he shouldn’t have been allowed to bat.
 
Incredible how he looked so dominant playing aggressively.

England can only really get him out when he tries to slog.
 
delpiero10 said:
293 runs in the Test match, 2 weeks after suffering a concussion. AND he gave his wicket away looking for quick runs on both occasions.

England have really only “legitimately” dismissed Smith once in this series - when he nicked off against Woakes in the 2nd innings at Edgbaston. 3 out of the other 4 occasions he was out slogging whilst looking for quick runs, and the 4th occasion was when he shouldn’t have been allowed to bat.
Click to expand...

imo even that nick of woakes was when he was going for quick runs. If his team needed he could have batted even more.
 
Steve could have carried on and make another big hundred but with only one day left he had to play shots so Australia could declare.His technique is not text book but he is very effective.Australia need to find another couple of good batsmen.Labuschagne is a good find.Khawaja has been disappointing.The rest not worth mentioning.Steve has been the backbone of batting and has been dismissed only once.
 
True modern legend and mentally toughest cricketer of this decade unlike someone who shows fake bravdo and fake PR and is a bottler.Go Smithy
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">You know he's a great when people say he's only scored 80 in this innings. Steve Smith's scores in this Ashes series - 144, 142, 92, 211, 82, 80<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ashes?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ashes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvAUS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvAUS</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1172551302829752321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Has failed to get to his hundred in two consecutive innings now, clearly he is in decline and will soon drop out of the Fab Four
 
James said:
Has failed to get to his hundred in two consecutive innings now, clearly he is in decline and will soon drop out of the Fab Four
Click to expand...
This innings was a failure in a way.

Last time for 82 he was making quick runs and got out in pursuit of that
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">COMPLICATED TECHNIQUE but an ORGANIZED MINDSET is what sets <a href="https://twitter.com/stevesmith49?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@stevesmith49</a> apart. Incredible comeback!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvsAUS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvsAUS</a> <a href="https://t.co/02MNGkYQ7y">pic.twitter.com/02MNGkYQ7y</a></p>— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) <a href="https://twitter.com/sachin_rt/status/1169610022445170690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
MenInG said:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">COMPLICATED TECHNIQUE but an ORGANIZED MINDSET is what sets <a href="https://twitter.com/stevesmith49?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@stevesmith49</a> apart. Incredible comeback!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvsAUS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvsAUS</a> <a href="https://t.co/02MNGkYQ7y">pic.twitter.com/02MNGkYQ7y</a></p>— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) <a href="https://twitter.com/sachin_rt/status/1169610022445170690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Click to expand...

Totally concur. Mindset matters. Bit like how Dhoni used to survive in one dayers with a super dodgy technique. But a technically more correct Dinesh karthik always found different ways to get out. Chanders is another example. He does a lot of shuffling too.
 
James said:
Has failed to get to his hundred in two consecutive innings now, clearly he is in decline and will soon drop out of the Fab Four
Click to expand...

A clear sign his hand eye coordination is failing him. Kohli with his superior technique will leap him by in the next few days.

Time for Smith to retire before being utterly humiliated by Kohli.
 
He's far behind but he does not give up.

He may be only the 2nd best batsman of this generation but his fighting ability is amazing.

What a knock from Kohli!

And against Rabada
 
Kohli only looks average now because Smith is inhuman. Otherwise Kohli himself is a champion batsman in test, extremely dominant when in form.

Basically Smith >>>>> Kohli >>>>> rest
 
Joseph Gomes said:
Kohli only looks average now because Smith is inhuman. Otherwise Kohli himself is a champion batsman in test, extremely dominant when in form.

Basically Smith >>>>> Kohli >>>>> rest
Click to expand...

There is only 1 statistic Kohli is ahead of Smith in tests, he plays bigger innings

Smith has 3 doubles in 68 matches while Kohli now has 7 in 81 matches
 
Kohli averaged 10 against Smith’s 100 in last Aus tour of India. So until that changes..
 
Joseph Gomes said:
Kohli only looks average now because Smith is inhuman. Otherwise Kohli himself is a champion batsman in test, extremely dominant when in form.

Basically Smith >>>>> Kohli >>>>> rest
Click to expand...

Its a 3 format game. And overall Kohli is some distance ahead of Smith as a batsman.
 
Smith is a better test batter but Kohli continues to remain a superior all-format batsmen than anyone who played the game.

Both are legends.
 
cricketjoshila said:
Its a 3 format game. And overall Kohli is some distance ahead of Smith as a batsman.
Click to expand...

Test cricket achievements are always considered double as that of ODIs and T20 is always half of ODI cricket.


So

Smith wins 3 > 0.5

Can't argue with facts and mathematics

#Stumped
 
Both averages 60+ in a format and Kohli has averaged 55 and 50 in the other formats aswell! so for me It's Kohli overall! but smith is better test bat!
 
kohli will wreck him soon. Kohli should playing so much t20. He would easily overtake smith if he was less focused on t20.
 
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