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Who is the best Test batsman in the world at the moment?

Who is the best Test batsman in the world at the moment?

  • Steve Smith

    Votes: 26 18.3%

  • Younis Khan

    Votes: 32 22.5%

  • Hashim Amla

    Votes: 9 6.3%

  • Kane Williamson

    Votes: 4 2.8%

  • Joe Root

    Votes: 11 7.7%

  • Ajinkya Rahane

    Votes: 11 7.7%

  • AB de Villiers

    Votes: 3 2.1%

  • David Warner

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Misbah-ul-Haq

    Votes: 3 2.1%

  • Alastair Cook

    Votes: 2 1.4%

  • Azhar Ali

    Votes: 6 4.2%

  • Angelo Mathews

    Votes: 1 0.7%

  • Jonny Bairstow

    Votes: 2 1.4%

  • Virat Kohli

    Votes: 30 21.1%

  • Other

    Votes: 2 1.4%
  • Total voters
    142
Vayuu said:
The thing is smith is already at its peak as far as test is concerned, whereas virat hasn't hit peak yet in tests.
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Nothing to with peak, look at the tracks, Kohli would also have scored century after century on these type of tracks. Smith was no where in recent series against Soth Africa where tracks has something in it.
 
Sin Nombre said:
The answer to this is still Steve Smith.

He is the only player who hasn't failed in any condition and can dominate when the pitches are flatter.

Ranking is

1. Steve Smith
2. Younis Khan
3. Root/Rahane/KW/Kohli/Amla - all have some question marks
4. Warner/Pujara/Bairstow/Cook/Misbah/Azhar Ali/De Kock

Root somehow on this board seems to get a free pass on his repeated struggles in 4th innings.
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Since my last post, YK has had multiple failures in NZ and Aus and Kohli with another double against England. Amla and Rahane have continued to struggle.

Smith
Root/Kohli
KW/Younis
Azhar/Amla/Pujara/QdK/Rahane
 
u25 rankings - tests only

QdK
Rahul
Hameed
Braithwaite
Babar/Handscomb/Bavuma/Nair


The Lankan Dhananjay has been very impressive, and has gone under the radar. How does PP rate him?
 
Sin Nombre said:
u25 rankings - tests only

QdK
Rahul
Hameed
Braithwaite
Babar/Handscomb/Bavuma/Nair


The Lankan Dhananjay has been very impressive, and has gone under the radar. How does PP rate him?
Click to expand...
I rate Mendis higher than Silva.
 
Mamoon said:
Smith, Kohli and Root. Take your pick.
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Azhar Ali, far far far far superior to Kohli with a superior average in Australia despite being an opener to that's how far Azhar has left his competitors, he is LEVELS above them.
 
shaz619 said:
Azhar Ali, far far far far superior to Kohli with a superior average in Australia despite being an opener to that's how far Azhar has left his competitors, he is LEVELS above them.
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Lol...How One inings made Azhar Ali superior to Kohli who has 4 such knocks???
 
Midwinter13992 said:
Lol...How One inings made Azhar Ali superior to Kohli who has 4 such knocks???
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Because Azhar has a superior average which is greater then Kohli's, Azhar is also an opener which is tougher, Azhar is the first double hundred maker since Viv in the 1980s as a touring batsman. Kohli has 4 tons but does he have a double? a double is like 2 tons in one bruh, also Azhar won't be playing as many games as Kohli which is why batting average is so important.
 
Be wary of Bairstow if he ever drops the gloves and starts batting at 4. This guy's a monster. His mental game is as good as anyone's.
 
David Warner. He is a monster and when he bats he bats with complete authority. Compare that to someone like Azhar whose main goal is just staying there. I definitely rate Azhar a lot, so imagine how I rate warner
 
shaz619 said:
Because Azhar has a superior average which is greater then Kohli's, Azhar is also an opener which is tougher, Azhar is the first double hundred maker since Viv in the 1980s as a touring batsman. Kohli has 4 tons but does he have a double? a double is like 2 tons in one bruh, also Azhar won't be playing as many games as Kohli which is why batting average is so important.
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Really?
Didn't Sachin score 241* in Sydney in 2004? I am sure there will be many more.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64062.html

About who is better between Azhar and Kohli - I will leave that debate to others.
 
shaz619 said:
Because Azhar has a superior average which is greater then Kohli's, Azhar is also an opener which is tougher, Azhar is the first double hundred maker since Viv in the 1980s as a touring batsman. Kohli has 4 tons but does he have a double? a double is like 2 tons in one bruh, also Azhar won't be playing as many games as Kohli which is why batting average is so important.
Click to expand...

HateKiller said:
Really?
Didn't Sachin score 241* in Sydney in 2004? I am sure there will be many more.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64062.html

About who is better between Azhar and Kohli - I will leave that debate to others.
Click to expand...

Azhar is the first since Viv to make a double hundred at the MCG.
 
Mamoon said:
Smith, Kohli and Root. Take your pick.
Click to expand...
What exactly has Root done to be mentioned in the same sentence as those two in this discussion?

Kohli and Smith are starting to break away from the pack.

Both are capable of scoring big hundreds and winning games for their side, Root is not.

He is only good for pretty 50's, he is not a consistent match winner like the other two yet.
 
Last edited:
Smith
Root
Kohli

De kock is doing great but since he's playing too low not seeing his name charting with the other guys
 
Smith by a distance.

He has been the best since 2015 IMO, always seems to perform everywhere and is almost always at the forefront of Australian success in red ball Cricket.
 
Steve Smith hasn't played amazingly tbh whenever there has been truly testing conditions.

Having said that however, the rate at which he scores almost every game in relatively easier conditions and the fact that he has 100s vs good bowlers is undeniably applaudable......Almost every other game you see him score a 100 and for that, you have to give him credit because no other batsman has been consistently doing such (current Kohli may do however).

Brilliant Batsman and is my pick for the best in the world.
 
Haroon786 said:
Smith by a distance.

He has been the best since 2015 IMO, always seems to perform everywhere and is almost always at the forefront of Australian success in red ball Cricket.
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I agree. Smith has been outstanding over the last two years and has started 2017 the same way. I personally think Kane is the superior batsman but can't argue with the numbers Smith has put out there.
 
Bilal7 said:
I agree. Smith has been outstanding over the last two years and has started 2017 the same way. I personally think Kane is the superior batsman but can't argue with the numbers Smith has put out there.
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I don't know about KW's stats, but I don't think he's done much in Tests since NZ's tour to Australia in 2015/2016 and also he seems to choke a bit when the going gets tough. While aesthetics are one aspect of batsmanship, sheer effectiveness should always be rated higher.
 
Are my eyes playing up on me or is Younus Khan really leading this poll?
 
My current Test rankings would probably be

1st = Smith/Root
3rd - Kohli
4th - Warner
5th= Amla/Younus/AB
6th Williamson
 
Am I the only one to think Smith is rubbish against moving ball?
 
street cricketer said:
How does Root find himself up there with Smith?
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Since he averages near 55 against the best attacks in the world, which is the same as Smith does. That being against Aust/SA/England & India whereas the likes of Williamson average in the 30s.
 
Snatch said:
Since he averages near 55 against the best attacks in the world, which is the same as Smith does. That being against Aust/SA/England & India whereas the likes of Williamson average in the 30s.
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The best attacks like ??

SA- Morkel, young Rabadda( before he became a force) and Morris

UAE- No Yasir in first test and pitches were very flat with Root having no impact towards the game.

Ind- Bowling attack was good but pitches were as flat as Aussies had for Williamson..

Root hasn't performed in Nz and Aus too.

So his away record demands a lot more than what he has achieved.

I put Kohli and Smith both higher on current form.
 
Snatch said:
Since he averages near 55 against the best attacks in the world, which is the same as Smith does. That being against Aust/SA/England & India whereas the likes of Williamson average in the 30s.
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Think he averages 52.75 against these teams home and away.

Smith has been the best batsman and I don't think you can club Root with him when the likes of Smith and Kohli have made more centuries outside of their home unlike Root.
 
street cricketer said:
Think he averages 52.75 against these teams home and away.

Smith has been the best batsman and I don't think you can club Root with him when the likes of Smith and Kohli have made more centuries outside of their home unlike Root.
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I wouldn't have a problem with Smith being ahead of Root for now, but not Kohli. Kohli struggled for runs for ages and has admittedly just had an excellent run in home conditions against weak NZ & English attacks in difficult conditions for them. I rate Kohli, but I wouldn't get carried away with his recent home form against very weak bowling attacks and his double ton vs the Windies followed by many failures.

I wouldn't have too much complaint about Smith at 1 and Root and 2, but I'm not prepared to put Kohli ahead of Root on the back of this one good home summer yet.
 
Smith is undoubtedly no.1 followed by Root and Kohli...Williamson, Rahane, Azhar, Younus, Warner, Bairstow, Cook ,Amla are below the trio not by much..
 
I rate Smith ahead of kohli and root.

Smith > root = kohli > decock = amla= Williamson = Warner >Barstow and rahane >>> rest....
 
Last edited:
Snatch said:
My current Test rankings would probably be

1st = Smith/Root
3rd - Kohli
4th - Warner
5th= Amla/Younus/AB
6th Williamson
Click to expand...

On what basis is Root above Kohli or even equivalent to Smith could you please elaborate?
 
Snatch said:
I wouldn't have a problem with Smith being ahead of Root for now, but not Kohli. Kohli struggled for runs for ages and has admittedly just had an excellent run in home conditions against weak NZ & English attacks in difficult conditions for them. I rate Kohli, but I wouldn't get carried away with his recent home form against very weak bowling attacks and his double ton vs the Windies followed by many failures.

I wouldn't have too much complaint about Smith at 1 and Root and 2, but I'm not prepared to put Kohli ahead of Root on the back of this one good home summer yet.
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I have already posted this to you but for clear view i would do it again

Root's average in below countries:

27 aus (4 tests)
17 Nz (3 tests)
24 Bangladesh (2 tests)

He is not close to Smith or even better than Kohli w.r.t those stats.
 
Added text

Root is more of HTB, outside england he does score runs in 50's before getting out.
 
Last edited:
Root has 3 tons outside of Eng.

Smith has 7 tons outside of Aus.

Kohli has 9 tons outside of India.

Smith has some problem when ball is moving, but he is best of the lot based on how he has done so far in all venues. Smith is best for me.
 
Last edited:
tanveer din said:
Azhar is better than Amla and Williamson at the moment, heck even rahane (what he did)
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Ali has a grand total of 2 tons with average of mid 30s outside of Asia even after having a good tour of Aus. Let him score few runs/tons first in unfamiliar conditions.
 
Buffet said:
Ali has a grand total of 2 tons with average of mid 30s outside of Asia even after having a good tour of Aus. Let him score few runs/tons first in unfamiliar conditions.
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What kane did in India? plus 2016 Azhar is different to 2013, I also put my money on him to score daddy in South africa next tour
 
tanveer din said:
What kane did in India? plus 2016 Azhar is different to 2013, I also put my money on him to score daddy in South africa next tour
Click to expand...

I didn't say that Ali will fail, but before putting him up there, I will like to see some output in unfamiliar conditions.
 
Smith is the best in the world. Embarrassing to see Virat Kohli with the second most nunber of votes.
 
Steven Smith is the best Test batsman in the world for sure,performs everywhere in any condition.
 
Smith.. He just had one of the best series by any overseas batsmen in India after Amla and Cook.
 
Smith has sealed his place as the world's best test batsman after this India-Aus test series.
 
Muhammad Hafeez, clearly, if he can still be selected for a decade.
 
Right now the top 3 for me:
Smith
Pujara
Williamson

Don't care about the word 'overseas'. These 3 have played clutch innings recently in difficult conditions which helped their team to win/draw.
 
Steven Smithers, first of his name, king of kangaroos and Subcontinental pitches
 
Last edited:
Smith indeed... followed by Pujara as the ICC rankings says.
 
Must say smith's batting is starting to grow on me. His cover drive is beauty!

Kinda like Amla's batting. Found him ugly at first but then started to enjoy it. Acquired taste I suppose
 
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