Steven Smith still has a long way to go

[Joseph Gomes]

Just to remember, Ricky Ponting, on 1st December of 2006, averaged 60 with over 9000 runs from 107 matches (9239 to be exact) with 33 tons

Had Ponting retired that time, would he be known as the second best after Bradman? We don't know. 107 match is certainly a decent sample size.

Ponting's brilliant average nosedived to a paltry 51.85 when he retired.

So Steven Smith, who has just scored 6k runs so far, has a lot to prove. It's easy to forget but there have been many batsmen with as unbelievable forms in the past. It's not something new

FUN FACT: Ponting, much like Virat Kohli, averaged an atrocious 12.28 in India from 8 matches.



Source: http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/7133.html?class=1;spanmax1=1+Dec+2006;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting

 

[Slog]

Pretty pointless thread all said and done.

Nobody at this point is saying Steve Smith is at Bradman level and already among the top 3 batsmen of all time. People say if he goes on like this he will be at that level and most likely will atleast be the top 5 category unless his career severely nosedives

What people do claim is that he is so far ahead of any other active batsmen that it's not even funny. And that is borne by factual evidence.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Pretty pointless thread all said and done.

Nobody at this point is saying Steve Smith is at Bradman level and already among the top 3 batsmen of all time. People say if he goes on like this he will be at that level and most likely will atleast be the top 5 category unless his career severely nosedives

What people do claim is that he is so far ahead of any other active batsmen that it's not even funny. And that is borne by factual evidence.

You should see the Aussie media then, claiming he's the second best since Bradman. Many ATG batsmen have these ridiculous peaks which fall sharply when they age (Dravid also averaged 58/59 at one time). Social media and online news sites are warping people's perception and contributing to short memory span.

 

[shane]

If there is anyone in international cricket who does not have a long way to go, it's Steven Smith.

 

[AFM]

You should see the Aussie media then, claiming he's the second best since Bradman. Many ATG batsmen have these ridiculous peaks which fall sharply when they age (Dravid also averaged 58/59 at one time). Social media and online news sites are warping people's perception and contributing to short memory span.

His peak is the second best since Bradman. That's a statistical fact.

 

[Ab Fan]

He is to tests what Kohli is to odis. A future GOAT in making.

 

[Aman]

Ponting was far better to watch than Smith.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Its the time and place Smith scores that makes him so great.

He is clutchest of clutch as well as a prolific scorer.

Yes, agreed long way to go but a potential GOAT.

 

[Last Monetarist]

Yes, agreed long way to go but a potential GOAT.

No earthly chance he'll be considered anywhere near as good as Bradman. He will either have to lift that test average by about 30 points, or maintain his current average, somehow acquire the swagger of Viv, Tendulkar, Lara or Ponting at the crease, and become a great limited overs cricketer to boot. None of which is at all likely.

 

[Slog]

No earthly chance he'll be considered anywhere near as good as Bradman. He will either have to lift that test average by about 30 points, or maintain his current average, somehow acquire the swagger of Viv, Tendulkar, Lara or Ponting at the crease, and become a great limited overs cricketer to boot. None of which is at all likely.

He is a great limited overs cricketer

I put him on same level as Kohli tbh in ODI because he absolutely smokes Kohli as far as WC knockouts are concerned

 

[Slog]

Ponting was far better to watch than Smith.

Ponting was far better to watch than most batsmen who have played

 

[Varun]

Ponting was brilliant. I don't quite rate Smith the same.

 

[Princejain191]

He is a great limited overs cricketer

I put him on same level as Kohli tbh in ODI because he absolutely smokes Kohli as far as WC knockouts are concerned

You are among the very VERY few who would then because in the end if the players play for their country for 200+ matches, judging them based on just 5/6 innings is pretty senseless. Would anyone put Zaheer and Waqar at the same level? Definitely not.

 

[Sachin136]

He is a great limited overs cricketer

I put him on same level as Kohli tbh in ODI because he absolutely smokes Kohli as far as WC knockouts are concerned

He's a terrible T20 player (regardless of what his average is).

If you think he's as good as Kohli in ODIs, then you're just wrong. Scoring in WC knockouts against Pakistan and India on flat pitches, or scoring a 50 chasing 186 isn't a big deal.

 

[Smudger]

You are among the very VERY few who would then because in the end if the players play for their country for 200+ matches, judging them based on just 5/6 innings is pretty senseless. Would anyone put Zaheer and Waqar at the same level? Definitely not.

Well as a batsman hasnt played a lot of matches. He will catch kohli with time.
He averages 54 at 90 sr as a batsman with a inhumane world cup to go with.
Kohli has played two wc but hasnt dominated any of the2

 

[Smudger]

He's a terrible T20 player (regardless of what his average is).

If you think he's as good as Kohli in ODIs, then you're just wrong. Scoring in WC knockouts against Pakistan and India on flat pitches, or scoring a 50 chasing 186 isn't a big deal.

O bhai you are biased. Smith started playing as a batsman 4 years ago that is why his average is low.
Smith is a equally capable t20 batsman . He has played 6 t20s as batsman scoring 2 50s. He scored 100 in ipl last season .
If he is terrible then how the hell is he retained. He is again given captaincy this season. Last season he was selected captain ahead of local boy Dhoni

 

[Convict]

The fact that Ponting played on for years after he should have retired does not make him a worse player than before.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

O bhai you are biased. Smith started playing as a batsman 4 years ago that is why his average is low.
Smith is a equally capable t20 batsman . He has played 6 t20s as batsman scoring 2 50s. He scored 100 in ipl last season .
If he is terrible then how the hell is he retained. He is again given captaincy this season. Last season he was selected captain ahead of local boy Dhoni

Equally capable t20 batsman?
On which basis?

 

[Princejain191]

Well as a batsman hasnt played a lot of matches. He will catch kohli with time.
He averages 54 at 90 sr as a batsman with a inhumane world cup to go with.
Kohli has played two wc but hasnt dominated any of the2

How exactly will he catch Kohli?

And what 54 average? He hasn't averaged 54 in any of the 8 years he has played ODIs in. Averages 28 away from home with one century. Averages 44 in the last two years with a strike rate of 84. Compare that to an average of 82 and SR of 99 for Virat. Has career average of 43 and 8 hundreds. So basically he has played 50% of the matches Virat has played and scored 25% of his centuries. Averages 33 in England, 28 in India, 11 in NZ, and 39 in South Africa. Now even if we take away the stats, how many amazing innings of Smith do you remember after the world cup?

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...6;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting

I don't see how they can be compared today or in the near-future.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

He is a great limited overs cricketer

I put him on same level as Kohli tbh in ODI because he absolutely smokes Kohli as far as WC knockouts are concerned

Gambhir >saeed, inzi, wasim, waqar, saqlain, shoaib.
Because he absolutely smokes all of them as far as WC knockouts are concerned.

 

[Smudger]

How exactly will he catch Kohli?

And what 54 average? He hasn't averaged 54 in any of the 8 years he has played ODIs in. Averages 28 away from home with one century. Averages 44 in the last two years with a strike rate of 84. Compare that to an average of 82 and SR of 99 for Virat. Has career average of 43 and 8 hundreds. So basically he has played 50% of the matches Virat has played and scored 25% of his centuries. Averages 33 in England, 28 in India, 11 in NZ, and 39 in South Africa. Now even if we take away the stats, how many amazing innings of Smith do you remember after the world cup?

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...6;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting

I don't see how they can be compared today or in the near-future.

Smith scored 164 vs nz when side was in trouble.
102 not out vs eng
104 vs sa anchoring run chase in tough situation in both innings.
And if you wanna talk about stats then Root is having better stats than kohli in past 3 years. He averages 71 at a sr of 93. Has an average of 89 in 2nd innings

 

[Protea Fan]

Some clutch knocks in big stages aren't enough to rate him on par with all time greats

For that smith needs overall stats to back him up so let alone this kohli,ponting comparisons thats still a long way

Root vs smith will be a fair comparison

 

[Smudger]

How exactly will he catch Kohli?

And what 54 average? He hasn't averaged 54 in any of the 8 years he has played ODIs in. Averages 28 away from home with one century. Averages 44 in the last two years with a strike rate of 84. Compare that to an average of 82 and SR of 99 for Virat. Has career average of 43 and 8 hundreds. So basically he has played 50% of the matches Virat has played and scored 25% of his centuries. Averages 33 in England, 28 in India, 11 in NZ, and 39 in South Africa. Now even if we take away the stats, how many amazing innings of Smith do you remember after the world cup?

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...6;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting

I don't see how they can be compared today or in the near-future.

Smith and kohli have similar sr in last 10 overs. Its just the middle overs where kohli takes the cherry. If Smith is set then he is as dangerous as kohli.

 

[Chrish]

There is a daylight gap between Smith and Kohli in ODI/ T20 Cricket.. And I don't even follow these formats.

 

[Chrish]

Any ways best current batsman is the best test batsman. Rest is usually irrelevant unless two players have similar Test stats then I might be inclined to compare them in other formats.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Long way to go for what? He's achieved a lot already. Far more than any other contemporary batsman has. Best batsman of the 2010's ahead of Amla,AB,Cook,Kohli etc. atleast in tests.

 

[Chrish]

As for Smith vs Ponting is concerned, Smith is obviously facing overall stronger bowling. England, SA, India, NZ all these teams have much better bowling compared to past. Something to consider.

 

[Chrish]

Against moving ball (seam/ swing), I would still take AB over Smith.. But Smith is much more likely to pile up on good batting wicket which is far more common.

 

[barah_admi]

You should see the Aussie media then, claiming he's the second best since Bradman. Many ATG batsmen have these ridiculous peaks which fall sharply when they age (Dravid also averaged 58/59 at one time). Social media and online news sites are warping people's perception and contributing to short memory span.

I was just about to post this. The Ozzy media has gone crazy for Smith, just like the Indians and Kohli. Smith has a long way to go to be ranked alongside Bradman, Ponting, Border and G Chappell. He is currently Steve Waugh level, which is still very good. Now that's just the Australia look, he still has some way to even be mentioned alongside Tendulkar, Lara, Viv, Sobers and a few others in tests.

As a complete batsman, across formats, he falls further behind with his ODI performances not being good enough for almost 2 years now.

 

[barah_admi]

As for Smith vs Ponting is concerned, Smith is obviously facing overall stronger bowling. England, SA, India, NZ all these teams have much better bowling compared to past. Something to consider.

Huh? Ponting facedFreddy, Harmy, Jimmy, Hoggard, Broad and a few others all at their peaks. He faced a younger, tougher, better Steyn, with Pollock and Ntini backing him up. He had to face Kumble and Khan from India. That's just the teams you mentioned.

He also faced better Pakistani and Windies bowlers. On top if that he did it in the age of larger boundaries and better bowling wickets. Not to mention he did it across all formats. Smith scratches together runs in ODIs and hasnt batted at a truly world class level in that format since 2015, that's 3 years ago.

 

[Ab Fan]

Huh? Ponting facedFreddy, Harmy, Jimmy, Hoggard, Broad and a few others all at their peaks. He faced a younger, tougher, better Steyn, with Pollock and Ntini backing him up. He had to face Kumble and Khan from India. That's just the teams you mentioned.

He also faced better Pakistani and Windies bowlers. On top if that he did it in the age of larger boundaries and better bowling wickets. Not to mention he did it across all formats. Smith scratches together runs in ODIs and hasnt batted at a truly world class level in that format since 2015, that's 3 years ago.

I dont know about names you mentioned but you missed out one big name- Ponting faced a SL side led by Murali and Vaas. Smith is facing an absolute mediocre SL side.

Smith faced better NZ attack though. As for SA- he is yet to face their absolute top class attack which we dont even know if he will face.

 

[Protea Fan]

Smith the odi player is no where near the player ponting ever was

Only AB and kohli is that level from this generation

 

[barah_admi]

I dont know about names you mentioned but you missed out one big name- Ponting faced a SL side led by Murali and Vaas. Smith is facing an absolute mediocre SL side.

Smith faced better NZ attack though. As for SA- he is yet to face their absolute top class attack which we dont even know if he will face.

Oops, I did forget the Lankans.

Other than that, as a cricket fan, you should know all the names I mentioned.

 

[Ab Fan]

Oops, I did forget the Lankans.

Other than that, as a cricket fan, you should know all the names I mentioned.

I mean its tough to say if that English attack was better than Anderson/Broad/Stokes and perhaps many more which he will play in next 5 years.

SA- he maybe facing as good or better or even lesser attacks ahead.

NZ- he is facing better

India- again close call. The current attack is their one of best but it gets diminished if Aussies serve pattas to them at home.

SL- he won't at any cost. That's sure.

Pak- Smith's battle will be only against Yasir in UAE because their Pacers cant stop him there and even in Australia it looks less likely.

 

[leatherface58]

In what world is 51.85 a paltry average? Do you folks even watch the sport?