Why isn't Graeme Smith picked in many all-time XIs?

[SLcric123]

I mean whenever I look at an all-time test XI of many cricketers, Cook, Hayden and Sehwag gets mentioned so many times but Smith never gets a mention unlike the three.

Graeme also played in the same era and was an ATG leader as well unlike those three.

Why is he so underrated? Discuss!

 

[Ab Fan]

He is a South African and the other three are from big 3.

That is the only valid reason I see.

 

[rhony]

He is tough like Steve Waugh. Both aren't ATGs but great players

 

[Ab Fan]

He is tough like Steve Waugh. Both aren't ATGs but great players

S Waugh is obviously an ATG.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Same reason ATGs like Donald, Pollock, Hadlee, etc are hardly picked.

 

[Ab Fan]

He is tough like Steve Waugh. Both aren't ATGs but great players

Although the thread is why he doesn't get mentioned ahead of some other names in XI.

 

[Ab Fan]

Same reason ATGs like Donald, Pollock, Hadlee, etc are hardly picked.

Kallis gets picked though. I think perhaps because there is no all-rounder from big 3 anywhere close to him let alone as good as him in last 20-25 years.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Kallis gets picked though. I think perhaps because there is no all-rounder from big 3 anywhere close to him let alone as good as him in last 20-25 years.

That is true. Kallis blows away all the competition.

 

[Rahul1]

He is tough like Steve Waugh. Both aren't ATGs but great players

Steve Waugh is a bonafide ATG.

 

[Varun]

Kallis gets picked though. I think perhaps because there is no all-rounder from big 3 anywhere close to him let alone as good as him in last 20-25 years.

As does Steyn.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Kallis gets picked though. I think perhaps because there is no all-rounder from big 3 anywhere close to him let alone as good as him in last 20-25 years.

Kallis was on par with the likes of Lara and Tendulkar as a batsman alone. He's the best cricketer from SAF by a big margin. Of course he would get chance.

 

[jeetu]

Kallis gets picked though. I think perhaps because there is no all-rounder from big 3 anywhere close to him let alone as good as him in last 20-25 years.

Kallis usually get overshadowed by Sobers when it comes to all time XI. Both were batting A/R.

 

[jeetu]

I mean whenever I look at an all-time test XI of many cricketers, Cook, Hayden and Sehwag gets mentioned so many times but Smith never gets a mention unlike the three.

Graeme also played in the same era and was an ATG leader as well unlike those three.

Why is he so underrated? Discuss!

Among last 20 years openers I put him just below Hayden but above Sehwag and Cook.
Although when it comes to all time XI there are bigger contenders to choose from
Top 3 are Hobbs , Hutton and Gavaskar. Then there is also a case for Barry Richards.

 

[Robert]

I mean whenever I look at an all-time test XI of many cricketers, Cook, Hayden and Sehwag gets mentioned so many times but Smith never gets a mention unlike the three.

Graeme also played in the same era and was an ATG leader as well unlike those three.

Why is he so underrated? Discuss!

To maintain an average of fifty over a hundred tests in a tough era is an amazing achievement.

The best SA batter I have seen. Maybe the best opener, with Gavaskar.

 

[QuickCrick]

Wicked player and Captain in test but I guess he needed to be up there in all formats to be considered an ATG.

If he won the World Cup it’d probably be different...?

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Kallis usually get overshadowed by Sobers when it comes to all time XI. Both were batting A/R.

That's just overhyping Sobers by the oldies. Kallis has much bigger sample pool against better oppositions.

 

[Cric1234]

He averaged 41 at home which makes it hard to call him an all time great opener he couldn't dominate in home conditions puts doubts on his greatness even though it's a tough place to open the innings.
Kallis was easily better and is more underrated he could be well be the best in the modern era his one paced nature goes against him here maybe that's why he's behind others generally.

 

[Cric1234]

Among last 20 years openers I put him just below Hayden but above Sehwag and Cook.
Although when it comes to all time XI there are bigger contenders to choose from
Top 3 are Hobbs , Hutton and Gavaskar. Then there is also a case for Barry Richards.

Hobbs is overrated he wasn't tested enough to be an all time great opener lack of pace bowlers old LBW laws against spinners balls pitching outside off could be padded away he a tier below the best his longevity is the best thing about his career.
Gavasker Hutton Hayden and Sehwag due to his unique strike rate are ahead of Smith overall.

 

[pillionrider]

I would pick him over Sehwag and Hayden.

His partner would be a tough one, but think I'll go with the right handed Sehwag.

 

[Robert]

He averaged 41 at home which makes it hard to call him an all time great opener he couldn't dominate in home conditions puts doubts on his greatness even though it's a tough place to open the innings.
Kallis was easily better and is more underrated he could be well be the best in the modern era his one paced nature goes against him here maybe that's why he's behind others generally.

My criticism of Kallis is that sometimes he would leave the hard yards to Smith.

Not always - when they faced the powerful England attack in 2004/5 Smith kept getting out to Hoggard while Kallis got 500 runs - but on some other occasions.

Though I might be biased because Smith was so much better against England, especially in England.

 

[Ab Fan]

My criticism of Kallis is that sometimes he would leave the hard yards to Smith.

Not always - when they faced the powerful England attack in 2004/5 Smith kept getting out to Hoggard while Kallis got 500 runs - but on some other occasions.

Though I might be biased because Smith was so much better against England, especially in England.

I agree here.

2003 England
2008 England
2008 Australia

Three occasions where Smith delivered series defining performance and Kallis failed in all of them.

Kallis did well in India and Pakistan though.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Not just cricket, he would be among the top 11 Gladiators of all time.

 

[Justcrazy]

Probably not glamorous enough or stylish

 

[Cric1234]

My criticism of Kallis is that sometimes he would leave the hard yards to Smith.

Not always - when they faced the powerful England attack in 2004/5 Smith kept getting out to Hoggard while Kallis got 500 runs - but on some other occasions.

Though I might be biased because Smith was so much better against England, especially in England.

England is one place where Smith did well and Kallis under performed although it's a smaller sample size in SA it's a no contest Kallis averages 56 to Smiths 41 make it 45 due to Smith being an opening batsman.

 

[Jo_Don]

He would be in mine, along with Gavaskar for the opening spots.

May not have been a glorious strokemaker, but was as tough as nails in doing what it took to get the job done, broken hand or not.

 

[Hasan123]

Lol when is Cook preferred in all time XI?

Gavaskar and Greenedige are also class openers so that could be a reason why he isn't selected.

 

[Ab Fan]

Smith and Gavaskar to open for me as well.

Smith and Hayden if we talk of the ones I saw.

 

[Rishta Aunty]

It's difficult as one of the opener sports is sown up by Gavaskar. Some top names for other spot who were either more destructive (Sehwag), more consistent (Hayden) or just have more pedigree (Hobbs, Hutton). Smith definitely is up there though; SA players get overlooked sometimes.

Not to forget the two West Indian greats in Grenidge/Haynes.

 

[Adijazz1706]

Doesn't deserve it, avged less than 35 at home vs top 5

 

[Ab Fan]

Lol when is Cook preferred in all time XI?

Gavaskar and Greenedige are also class openers so that could be a reason why he isn't selected.

I think Cook and Anderson both are very obvious contenders in many cricketer all-time XI which is conducted by Lords Cricket.

 

[Hasan123]

I think Cook and Anderson both are very obvious contenders in many cricketer all-time XI which is conducted by Lords Cricket.

Neither has no business in a all time XI.

 

[Robert]

I think Cook and Anderson both are very obvious contenders in many cricketer all-time XI which is conducted by Lords Cricket.

Gooch and Cook have the most runs at Lord’s - incredibly, nearly a quarter of Gooch’s test runs came there (including 451 in one match).

Anderson has most wickets at 90, Broad 77, Botham 69.

 

[Ab Fan]

Gooch and Cook have the most runs at Lord’s - incredibly, nearly a quarter of Gooch’s test runs came there (including 451 in one match).

Anderson has most wickets at 90, Broad 77, Botham 69.

Yes but most cricketers pick either Cook-Hayden, Cook-Sehwag or Sehwag-Hayden in their all-time XI they have played with or seen. Smith name is hardly mentioned by few which is what the point of the OP is I think.

 

[shaz619]

Saffers generally tend to be rated after a long period of time, Smith will be respected years from now; very few in history can match his prowess as an opener and he thrived in that role under the severe burden of captaining south africa from a young age. He is the greatest opener of all time for me personally.

 

[angrypathan]

Because he's not an ATG.

 

[Cozyrensetter]

He is not an ATG because of Zaheer khan and its not like Zaheer himself was an ATG

 

[Rayyman]

Very good commentary