[VIDEOS] Is Steven Smith the best batter you have ever seen?

[BunnyRabbit]

Kallis was also a super consistent batter who never really went through a long bad patch.
Smith's stats would be even better if his first 5-10 tests aren't considered when he played as a bowler.

 

[mominsaigol]

Like I said he has holes in his averages. But you can make a case for Ponting not having faced Warne or Mcgrath, or Smith not having faced either Warne, Murali or Kumble
Comparing players of different eras is difficult.

Dont think smith would struggle vs Kumble. He didnt struggle against ashwin or Jadeja in India during his peak and I view those 2 > Kumble at home den.

Murli and Warne are a different story though, but it would depend on pitches. In sri lanka smith would struggle immensely. In aus in fc dont smith would have too much of an issue with warne. Warne cant get him with his classic around tue stump line since smith always blocks it with his foot.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Dont think smith would struggle vs Kumble. He didnt struggle against ashwin or Jadeja in India during his peak and I view those 2 > Kumble at home den.

Murli and Warne are a different story though, but it would depend on pitches. In sri lanka smith would struggle immensely. In aus in fc dont smith would have too much of an issue with warne. Warne cant get him with his classic around tue stump line since smith always blocks it with his foot.

It's all speculation. Warne was also a larger than life personality who was pretty good with mind games. We can't say anything cause it never happened. Herath got Smith 5/6 times during the SL test series in 2016 during Smith's peak. Even though Smith scored a century on that as well.

 

[mominsaigol]

It's all speculation. Warne was also a larger than life personality who was pretty good with mind games. We can't say anything cause it never happened. Herath got Smith 5/6 times during the SL test series in 2016 during Smith's peak. Even though Smith scored a century on that as well.

Sri Lanka are spin friendly pitches and would trouble anyone thats why. Murli on a Sri Lanka pitch is a damn nightmare. Yes the likes of sachin, lara and a few others have managed him but not all the time.

Warne vs Smith depends on the pitch. Warne was tricky on aussie pitches due to high bounce since he would utilise uneven bounce and bowl much quicker as aussie pitches dont offer much spin. However that is unlikely to unsettle someone like smith.

Warne vs Smith on a spinning pitch would result in Warne winning yes. Too much variety for smith to deal with.

 

[Ball Blazer]

Steven Smith said, "my goal is to play the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics". (7Cricket).

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Steven Smith said, "my goal is to play the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics". (7Cricket).

He is being greedy here, he has never been a good batter in t20s.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

He is being greedy here, he has never been a good batter in t20s.

it depends if countries take the olympics seriously or it becomes like football with junior players and 1-2 seniors there for the ride.

I can imagine it being a bigger deal for Asian countries who rarely win anything in Olympics than it will be for SENA countries.

But either way, I have a feeling Kohli will play for India too.

 

[harshjoshi87]

Sri Lanka are spin friendly pitches and would trouble anyone thats why. Murli on a Sri Lanka pitch is a damn nightmare. Yes the likes of sachin, lara and a few others have managed him but not all the time.

Warne vs Smith depends on the pitch. Warne was tricky on aussie pitches due to high bounce since he would utilise uneven bounce and bowl much quicker as aussie pitches dont offer much spin. However that is unlikely to unsettle someone like smith.

Warne vs Smith on a spinning pitch would result in Warne winning yes. Too much variety for smith to deal with.

He will struggle or not is another story, but Kohli achieved test victories in Australia twice which he can't in his lifetime in India.

Anyways Smith for me is choker who has 0 hundreds in 4th innings, so he is well behind Williamson, Root & Kohli.

 

[kron]

The best ever I have seen in my lifetime

If India had a player like Steven smith instead of kohli we would have won a lot more than we did even though kohli has won quite a few trophies

Less choking for sure

 

[DeadlyVenom]

The best ever I have seen in my lifetime

If India had a player like Steven smith instead of kohli we would have won a lot more than we did even though kohli has won quite a few trophies

Less choking for sure

What would you have won ?

India did ok in LOI and Smith wasn't too critical of Aussie success in LOIs.

 

[kron]

What would you have won ?

India did ok in LOI and Smith wasn't too critical of Aussie success in LOIs.

Wtc final both finals easy

Easily with smith playing

Although India missed pant and bumrah and jaiswal badly for wtc final 2

 

[harshjoshi87]

The best ever I have seen in my lifetime

If India had a player like Steven smith instead of kohli we would have won a lot more than we did even though kohli has won quite a few trophies

Less choking for sure

4th innings choker Smith has 0 test series wins in India, England & South Africa.

Kohli has won twice in Australia.

 

[kron]

4th innings choker Smith has 0 test series wins in India, England & South Africa.

Kohli has won twice in Australia.

It’s a team game though
He won a wtc

 

[harshjoshi87]

It’s a team game though
He won a wtc

India missed Bumrah, Pant, Rahul, Shreyas & Ashwin was dropped from that final.

Easy victory for the Aussies against an understrength Indian team coming off from playing two months straight from the IPL.

 

[mominsaigol]

Can Steve Smith Possibly reach Tendulkar as well? He just stated he wants to play till 2028 LA Olympics and debunked the rumors of retirement post Ashes?

He said he only quit ODI as he believes the format is dying and isn't that relevant outside of world cups anymore.

He has no plans of retiring from T20 both league or international(selected or not) and test cricket.

He still wants to play bigbash league freqently and wont leave until 2028.

@Ice Man @sweep_shot

Ik Smith will dominate England in Ashes though. Mcg and SCG is where he activates God Mode.

 

[mominsaigol]

Can Steve Smith Possibly reach Tendulkar as well? He just stated he wants to play till 2028 LA Olympics and debunked the rumors of retirement post Ashes?

He said he only quit ODI as he believes the format is dying and isn't that relevant outside of world cups anymore.

He has no plans of retiring from T20 both league or international(selected or not) and test cricket.

He still wants to play bigbash league freqently and wont leave until 2028.

@Ice Man @sweep_shot

Ik Smith will dominate England in Ashes though. Mcg and SCG is where he activates God Mode.

Also Steve Smith has verbally stated that Joe Root can and will surpass Tendulkar.

So much for Indian posters like @Ab Fan @Sachin fan and @RexRex and others laughing at Pakistani fans and calling everyone wannabee.

What happened to the whole but but but Australians hate England players and want Root to fail, they despise root and only Pakistan fans are wannabee's.

These clowns have no clue about the game. Both sides respect each other and their players and are fans of each other.

Smith has more respect for root and vice versa.

Its delusional indians who keep equating everything to Pakistan.

@Ice Man

 

[Ice Man]

Also Steve Smith has verbally stated that Joe Root can and will surpass Tendulkar.

So much for Indian posters like @Ab Fan @Sachin fan and @RexRex and others laughing at Pakistani fans and calling everyone wannabee.

What happened to the whole but but but Australians hate England players and want Root to fail, they despise root and only Pakistan fans are wannabee's.

These clowns have no clue about the game. Both sides respect each other and their players and are fans of each other.

Smith has more respect for root and vice versa.

Its delusional indians who keep equating everything to Pakistan.

@Ice Man

Mate, the first thing taught over here when playing any kind of sport is that you always respect your opponent/never underestimate them, no matter who it is.

Sometimes rivalries can get personal and result in bad blood but for the most part there is always mutual respect/admiration.

 

[mominsaigol]

Mate, the first thing taught over here when playing any kind of sport is that you always respect your opponent/never underestimate them, no matter who it is.

Sometimes rivalries can get personal and result in bad blood but for the most part there is always mutual respect/admiration.

But only Indians can decide for us mate.

Australia hate root and despise him beyond belief and are extremely committed to the cause of saving their hero Tendulkar.

I expect CA to axe Steve Smith for his transgression.

 

[kron]

India missed Bumrah, Pant, Rahul, Shreyas & Ashwin was dropped from that final.

Easy victory for the Aussies against an understrength Indian team coming off from playing two months straight from the IPL.

True good point
But for me his series vs 2017 India was legendary for that alone he is goat to me hey

And the series in 2018 vs England

 

[harshjoshi87]

But only Indians can decide for us mate.

Australia hate root and despise him beyond belief and are extremely committed to the cause of saving their hero Tendulkar.

I expect CA to axe Steve Smith for his transgression.

Root has historically struggled in Australia, if Australia hold off Root yet again this summer, Root might have a decline like Kohli & even Smith(until he made those 2 hundreds in BGT) & Sachin's record might not be broken.

 

[mominsaigol]

Root has historically struggled in Australia, if Australia hold off Root yet again this summer, Root might have a decline like Kohli & even Smith(until he made those 2 hundreds in BGT) & Sachin's record might not be broken.

Form slump =/= struggling in one country.

Root is in the form of his life. You don't enter into a form slump just cause you fail in a country you have continued to fail throughout your entire career.

Secondly he is not that old. 34 is not the age where decline starts. 37-38 is. You guys are all suffering from the kohli effect whos test career died at age 30.

 

[harshjoshi87]

Form slump =/= struggling in one country.

Root is in the form of his life. You don't enter into a form slump just cause you fail in a country you have continued to fail throughout your entire career.

Secondly he is not that old. 34 is not the age where decline starts. 37-38 is. You guys are all suffering from the kohli effect whos test career died at age 30.

Even Smith suffered form slump until he got those hundreds against India.

Kohli's happened due to his eye issues & non stop playing since 2008. Hardly any rest & gaps in between, keeping that intensity throughout finally affected Kohli's batting & he hasn't recovered.

I remember Kallis was going in same vein as Root is currently, everyone felt Kallis will break Sachin's 51 centuries record, but he too experienced similar slump & finally retired.

Most Indian fans including me want Root to experience form slump in his form & record stays with India. But i like watching Root bat, simple solid technique, hope he finally gets that 100 in Australia which has eluded him in the past.

 

[mominsaigol]

Even Smith suffered form slump until he got those hundreds against India.

Kohli's happened due to his eye issues & non stop playing since 2008. Hardly any rest & gaps in between, keeping that intensity throughout finally affected Kohli's batting & he hasn't recovered.

I remember Kallis was going in same vein as Root is currently, everyone felt Kallis will break Sachin's 51 centuries record, but he too experienced similar slump & finally retired.

Most Indian fans including me want Root to experience form slump in his form & record stays with India. But i like watching Root bat, simple solid technique, hope he finally gets that 100 in Australia which has eluded him in the past.

Kohli didnt happen due to anything. My mother is an opthalmologist lol, dont peddle that nonsense eye issue narrative.

Kohli happened because of ego. His one weakness throughout his career in all formats was that delivery that angels away from him which is far harder to bowl in odi and t20.

He did not have the discipline to leave it alone and eventually sides caught on and kept bowling that same delivery to him

 

[kron]

India missed Bumrah, Pant, Rahul, Shreyas & Ashwin was dropped from that final.

Easy victory for the Aussies against an understrength Indian team coming off from playing two months straight from the IPL.

Rahul tbh was out of form at the time but yea still point is still valid

Shreyas tbh sucks vs bounce

Pant bumrah ashwin were huge losses though for sure

We would have won wtc final

Having said that Steve smith still goat man. He doesn’t have a good record vs bumrah but he did pretty decently in 2021.

 

[kron]

Also Steve Smith has verbally stated that Joe Root can and will surpass Tendulkar.

So much for Indian posters like @Ab Fan @Sachin fan and @RexRex and others laughing at Pakistani fans and calling everyone wannabee.

What happened to the whole but but but Australians hate England players and want Root to fail, they despise root and only Pakistan fans are wannabee's.

These clowns have no clue about the game. Both sides respect each other and their players and are fans of each other.

Smith has more respect for root and vice versa.

Its delusional indians who keep equating everything to Pakistan.

@Ice Man

Lmao yea India vs pak is nothing like Aus vs England

Aus love English and vice versa

Just brotherly banter


People are stupid

Average person is dumb sadly.

 

[harshjoshi87]

Kohli didnt happen due to anything. My mother is an opthalmologist lol, dont peddle that nonsense eye issue narrative.

Kohli happened because of ego. His one weakness throughout his career in all formats was that delivery that angels away from him which is far harder to bowl in odi and t20.

He did not have the discipline to leave it alone and eventually sides caught on and kept bowling that same delivery to him

The weakness has returned recently when he started skipping matches. He was doing alright until the South Africa series in 2024. He didn't play the next England in India series, went straight to the IPL & his defensive game was gone. Kept poking at the deliveries outside off which he wasn't until the South African tour in early 2024.

 

[kron]

Kohli didnt happen due to anything. My mother is an opthalmologist lol, dont peddle that nonsense eye issue narrative.

Kohli happened because of ego. His one weakness throughout his career in all formats was that delivery that angels away from him which is far harder to bowl in odi and t20.

He did not have the discipline to leave it alone and eventually sides caught on and kept bowling that same delivery to him

Kohli is not fit to tie Steve smiths shoelaces
Sorry

Steve smith is goat no matter which way people spin it.

Root tends go past 20 k runs
Don’t care

Steve smith is the best player ever

There is a difference between best and greatest

Greatest doesn’t equate to best

Best means he was the best in his prime

He is boat

Who cares for goat

 

[harshjoshi87]

Rahul tbh was out of form at the time but yea still point is still valid

Shreyas tbh sucks vs bounce

Pant bumrah ashwin were huge losses though for sure

We would have won wtc final

Having said that Steve smith still goat man. He doesn’t have a good record vs bumrah but he did pretty decently in 2021.

Pant & even Shreyas were our best batsman during that period. Shreyas had scored centuries vs NZ in India replacing Rahane iirc. Rahul had played well in England in 2021 & 2022 series.

We missed Pant, Bumrah & Ashwin the most.

 

[harshjoshi87]

Kohli is not fit to tie Steve smiths shoelaces
Sorry

Steve smith is goat no matter which way people spin it.

Root tends go past 20 k runs
Don’t care

Steve smith is the best player ever

There is a difference between best and greatest

Greatest doesn’t equate to best

Best means he was the best in his prime

He is boat

Who cares for goat

Smith doesn't have a 4th innings century. Can't be called as goat.

 

[kron]

Pant & even Shreyas were our best batsman during that period. Shreyas had scored centuries vs NZ in India replacing Rahane iirc. Rahul had played well in England in 2021 & 2022 series.

We missed Pant, Bumrah & Ashwin the most.

Yea true

 

[kron]

Smith doesn't have a 4th innings century. Can't be called as goat.

Neither does kohli does he? But impactless knock means nothing

Smith was more impactful than anyone else

 

[harshjoshi87]

Neither does kohli does he? But impactless knock means nothing

Smith was more impactful than anyone else

Kohli scored 4th innings century at Adelaide in his first match as test captain in 2014-15 BGT.

 

[kron]

Kohli scored 4th innings century at Adelaide in his first match as test captain in 2014-15 BGT.

But losing cause. Dint help them get over the linen

 

[mominsaigol]

Kohli scored 4th innings century at Adelaide in his first match as test captain in 2014-15 BGT.

This 4th innings metric is extremely flawed.

In smith's 8 year peak he was dominating virtually everyone. His batting 90% of the time would either ensure that Australia would win by an innings or they'd have a very small target to chase in the 4th innings.

He didnt have enough on the board to get a 4th innings score.

Australia is not india that gets bundled out for 36 and 45 on occasion.

Say what you want about smith post 8 year peak, but in his 8 years he was the greatest batter post don.

Not even Prime Viv and Sobers dominated that much.

Avg 65 in a bowler friendly era for 8 years and that too across almost any den is almost impossible to achieve.

People keep forgetting that sachin, Lara and many others are from an era where even shahid Afridi a lulla avg 37 in test cricket.

Draws were a common occurrence then as compared to now where draws are unlikely unless you're batting in england or Pakistan.

 

[Mamoon]

Test matches are usually won and lost in the first two innings. A batsman who averages higher in the first and second innings rather than the third and fourth is going to put his team in a stronger position 9/10 times.

4th innings performances without context mean nothing. For example, a batsman gets out for a duck in the second innings in response to a huge total posted by the opposition team in the first innings.

His duck is one of the reasons why his team is under the pump and in the fourth innings, with a huge total to chase, he scores a meaningless stat-padding century that doesn’t take the team close to chasing. Did he have a great game? No.

Will be people pat him on the back in the future when they look at his stats and see his 4th innings average? Sadly, yes.

Smith has shaped far more wins for Australia in the first and second innings than he has lost them in the fourth innings.

 

[kron]

This 4th innings metric is extremely flawed.

In smith's 8 year peak he was dominating virtually everyone. His batting 90% of the time would either ensure that Australia would win by an innings or they'd have a very small target to chase in the 4th innings.

He didnt have enough on the board to get a 4th innings score.

Australia is not india that gets bundled out for 36 and 45 on occasion.

Say what you want about smith post 8 year peak, but in his 8 years he was the greatest batter post don.

Not even Prime Viv and Sobers dominated that much.

Avg 65 in a bowler friendly era for 8 years and that too across almost any den is almost impossible to achieve.

People keep forgetting that sachin, Lara and many others are from an era where even shahid Afridi a lulla avg 37 in test cricket.

Draws were a common occurrence then as compared to now where draws are unlikely unless you're batting in england or Pakistan.

Smith is goat no matter which way people spin it

I am the goat at discerning a player’s ability

He is goat.

 

[harshjoshi87]

This 4th innings metric is extremely flawed.

In smith's 8 year peak he was dominating virtually everyone. His batting 90% of the time would either ensure that Australia would win by an innings or they'd have a very small target to chase in the 4th innings.

He didnt have enough on the board to get a 4th innings score.

Australia is not india that gets bundled out for 36 and 45 on occasion.

Say what you want about smith post 8 year peak, but in his 8 years he was the greatest batter post don.

Not even Prime Viv and Sobers dominated that much.

Avg 65 in a bowler friendly era for 8 years and that too across almost any den is almost impossible to achieve.

People keep forgetting that sachin, Lara and many others are from an era where even shahid Afridi a lulla avg 37 in test cricket.

Draws were a common occurrence then as compared to now where draws are unlikely unless you're batting in england or Pakistan.

Agree but Smith could not even score one century while chasing in 4th innings qualifies him as a choker for me.

That's why i rate Williamson & Root over Smith as Kohli has retired from the test format.