What's new

Steve Smith will bounce back!

5 run difference is pretty significant even if you decide to be selective..

5 runs are significant for sure, but when all said and done Smith average is 50 outside of Aus and 77 in Aus. Smith is rated as the best not due to playing better than others outside of Aus. He is rated as the best batsman due to being far ahead of others in home conditions.

Many batsmen have a averaged higher than Smith in the last 10 years while playing away from their home,but no one has scored so heavily in home conditions.
 
5 runs are significant for sure, but when all said and done Smith average is 50 outside of Aus and 77 in Aus. Smith is rated as the best not due to playing better than others outside of Aus. He is rated as the best batsman due to being far ahead of others in home conditions.

Many batsmen have a averaged higher than Smith in the last 10 years while playing away from their home,but no one has scored so heavily in home conditions.

It's half and half tbh. He wouldn't be rated high if he hadn't proved himself outside of Australia. It's just that his home record is so insane that it gives impression of HTB but in reality his away record alone is enough to make him the best current test batsman. No other player of his generation has as balanced away record as him.
 
He is the best test batsmen but not the best out there.

In this era, it is not necessary that the best test batsmen is the best batsmen in the world.

However, the best batsmen in the world should be a gun batsmen in tests. That is a minimum criteria.
 
He is the best test batsmen but not the best out there.

In this era, it is not necessary that the best test batsmen is the best batsmen in the world.

However, the best batsmen in the world should be a gun batsmen in tests. That is a minimum criteria.
This.

It shows your quality to be able to adjust to the different formats and be world class/ATG class in all of them.

Smith is ATG material in Tests, decent in ODIs and a non entitiy in T20s.
 
Overall I think Kohli is the best batsman out there. In tests Smith is superior but in terms of best batsman (Considering all the formats) Kohli is a beast.
 
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cXKtfLyrfw0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Last edited by a moderator:
It's half and half tbh. He wouldn't be rated high if he hadn't proved himself outside of Australia. It's just that his home record is so insane that it gives impression of HTB but in reality his away record alone is enough to make him the best current test batsman. No other player of his generation has as balanced away record as him.

Nope, his away record alone won't make him the best current test batsman, if only away record is to be considered then abdv is the best current test batsman

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...8;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting
 
It's half and half tbh. He wouldn't be rated high if he hadn't proved himself outside of Australia. It's just that his home record is so insane that it gives impression of HTB but in reality his away record alone is enough to make him the best current test batsman. No other player of his generation has as balanced away record as him.

I would think the current would mean the last 24 months,

Last 2 years away record,

current.jpg

..
..

The last 10 years,
..
..
last10.jpg


In the last 10 years, AB is averaging 10 points higher than Smith when playing outside of home. It's not even a comparison.

As far as the last 2 years are concerned, Smith is really middle of pack. You can sure pick some period where he may be better, but no way he has any period where he will go as the best batsman right now based on only away performance.
 
I sincerely hope he does make a comeback. He has an aura of dependability that he lets off because of his batting that is surely to be missed by the Aussie team and fans alike.
 
I would think the current would mean the last 24 months,

Last 2 years away record,

View attachment 80538

..
..

The last 10 years,
..
..
View attachment 80539


In the last 10 years, AB is averaging 10 points higher than Smith when playing outside of home. It's not even a comparison.

As far as the last 2 years are concerned, Smith is really middle of pack. You can sure pick some period where he may be better, but no way he has any period where he will go as the best batsman right now based on only away performance.

2 years or 10 years are random cut offs that don't even apply to Smith as he didn't debut 10 years ago, and he has peaked since 2013 so not sure why you would only select past 2 years.

Anyways, Smith is better than Kohli away from home not just because he averages 5 points higher but because his record is far more balanced than Kohli's. Smith doesn't have tailender's record in England for example.
 
I sincerely hope he does make a comeback. He has an aura of dependability that he lets off because of his batting that is surely to be missed by the Aussie team and fans alike.

I am not even a fan but you have to be stupid or incredibly jingoistic not to acknowledge that he is literally streets ahead of any other test batsman despite the setback in recent series.
 
2 years or 10 years are random cut offs that don't even apply to Smith as he didn't debut 10 years ago, and he has peaked since 2013 so not sure why you would only select past 2 years.

Anyways, Smith is better than Kohli away from home not just because he averages 5 points higher but because his record is far more balanced than Kohli's. Smith doesn't have tailender's record in England for example.

Why don't you pick a period whatever suits to make your case and show me how Smith is the best batsman based only on his away record in that period. I was replying to your best away batsman claim so not sure why Kohli comes in picture.
 
2 years or 10 years are random cut offs that don't even apply to Smith as he didn't debut 10 years ago, and he has peaked since 2013 so not sure why you would only select past 2 years.


Since 2013, Smith outside Aus average is 52. Rahane has 52. Kane has 56 and Kohli has 50.

Not sure how can you claim that he is the best batsman just based on his away record. There are many batsmen with similar away record even when you pick his peak period.

As I said earlier, he is the best batsman due to averaging near 80 in his home ground. He still has a good record outside, but not to propel him to the top.
 
Last edited:
Since 2013, Smith outside Aus average is 52. Rahane has 52. Kane has 56 and Kohli has 50.

Not sure how can you claim that he is the best batsman just based on his away record. There are many batsmen with similar away record even when you pick his peak period.

As I said earlier, he is the best batsman due to averaging near 80 in his home ground. He still has a good record outside, but not to propel him to the top.

Thanks for completely ignoring "balanced record" part as usual..
 
Rahane averages 34 in India after playing 19 some games.. He was in fact dropped not long ago based on lack of performance. Yeah he can be compared with Smith based on his average of 43 and away average of 33 in England

And Kohli? LOL :)))
 
Rahane averages 34 in India after playing 19 some games.. He was in fact dropped not long ago based on lack of performance. Yeah he can be compared with Smith based on his average of 43 and away average of 33 in England

And Kohli? LOL :)))

Rahan'e performance in India is not even relevant. Why will you take Rahane's home average when you are trying to make a claim about away performance?

Rahane's knock in green pitch in Eng was better than any knock by Smith in a green pitch. Not sure why you are laughing.

Now can we stick to your claim about Smith being the best in world just based on away performance? You can pick any cherry picked period and state your case. Or we can shift goalpost and talk about home performance then it's not even a debate. Smith is far ahead of everyone else at home.
 
Last edited:
Rahan'e performance in India is not even relevant. Why will you take Rahane's home average when you are trying to make a claim about away performance?

Rahane's knock in green pitch in Eng was better than any knock by Smith in a green pitch. Not sure why you are laughing.

Now can we stick to your claim about Smith being the best in world just based on away performance? You can pick any cherry picked period and state your case. Or we can shift goalpost and talk about home performance then it's not even a debate. Smith is far ahead of everyone else at home.

Rahane doesn't enter into debate since his overall record is far inferior to others. And he hasn't played even the two-third of the away innings that Smith has.

When I said Smith is the best player based on away performances alone, I meant it as in comparison to players who are perceived to be his competitors such as Kohli, Root, Williamson etc. Up until this point, Rahane has done nothing to warrant that comparison.
 
My posts might come out as if I am not giving enough credit to Kohli so let me clear up few things. He was extremely impressive in the most recent series where wickets were diabolical. What he really needs is a massive series in England where he averages 50+. He has the opportunity where he will be facing Broad/ Anderson in his prime for 5 games. If he does that then the gap between him and Smith will be drastically reduced although Smith will still be slightly ahead due to unbelievable consistency for past 5 years.

But any comparison before then is cringe-worthy.
 
Last edited:
Rahane doesn't enter into debate since his overall record is far inferior to others. And he hasn't played even the two-third of the away innings that Smith has.

When I said Smith is the best player based on away performances alone, I meant it as in comparison to players who are perceived to be his competitors such as Kohli, Root, Williamson etc. Up until this point, Rahane has done nothing to warrant that comparison.

I can agree with this. I will also pick Smith if your criterion is this. I misunderstood your earlier post.
 
Smith might not be able to reach the heights he once reached although it would be a nice comeback story if he does and hope he does.
He is a hand eye coordination player so his extended great form will not last even if he was not banned and secondly this whole saga will effect him mentally which would be hard to get over so easily.
 
Why would Tendulkar fail last two years even if he had a perfect technique? Or was he also a hand-eye-co player much like every other batsman on planet?
 
The best current batsman is the best batsman in Test format which Smith is by a mile..

Don't think many in Australia themselves believe Smith is the best current batsman. Definitely not Warne and Mark Nicholas. Pretty sure your definition of best batsman would fit if it was the 70s, but not today. Virat is by some miles ahead of Smith. And Smith is horrible against seam and swing. Averages 60+ cos of terrible home pitches. Even after 3 tours to England and county cricket experience, he looked a kid when it swung in England last time and cashed in on the flat ones - like he always does. No competition between the two. He is competing against a 50+ average all-format once in a lifetime batsman.
 
I would think the current would mean the last 24 months,

Last 2 years away record,

View attachment 80538

..
..

The last 10 years,
..
..
View attachment 80539


In the last 10 years, AB is averaging 10 points higher than Smith when playing outside of home. It's not even a comparison.

As far as the last 2 years are concerned, Smith is really middle of pack. You can sure pick some period where he may be better, but no way he has any period where he will go as the best batsman right now based on only away performance.

Good stats bro ... that should settle the debate!

:kohli2 >> :ssmith overall :shhh
 
2 years or 10 years are random cut offs that don't even apply to Smith as he didn't debut 10 years ago, and he has peaked since 2013 so not sure why you would only select past 2 years.

Anyways, Smith is better than Kohli away from home not just because he averages 5 points higher but because his record is far more balanced than Kohli's. Smith doesn't have tailender's record in England for example.




Bro Kohli is not retired yet, IIRC King Kohli :kohli2 didn't got caught cheating :ssmith

:kohli2 will play for sure in ENG (bar any injury) and improve his stats :ashwin
 
Last edited:
I would think the current would mean the last 24 months,

Last 2 years away record,

View attachment 80538

..
..

The last 10 years,
..
..
View attachment 80539


In the last 10 years, AB is averaging 10 points higher than Smith when playing outside of home. It's not even a comparison.

As far as the last 2 years are concerned, Smith is really middle of pack. You can sure pick some period where he may be better, but no way he has any period where he will go as the best batsman right now based on only away performance.
And that's this thread done.

And LOL at bringing up England. IIRC Smith was poor last Ashes and cashed in on the flat tracks.
 
Last edited:
Kohli cashed in on flatter Indian tracks while went missing on rank turners in SA and Aus series.

Anyways this is getting tedious now so I won’t be entertaining every post.
 
Kohli cashed in on flatter Indian tracks while went missing on rank turners in SA and Aus series.

Anyways this is getting tedious now so I won’t be entertaining every post.
Smith plays most of his cricket in in Australia and averages 70+...

End of.
 
And also averages 5 runs higher than Kohli away from home :)
 
Back
Top