2019 ASHES: 4th Test Australia v England, Old Trafford Sept 4-9

[Eelectrica]

At the moment I'd have Khawaja back in the team. He's not great, but he's probably a better option than Wade or Harris and even Warner.

I think Warner will stay in the team, because without any clearly better replacements, experience wins out.

 

[TheFrog]

Ponting was the greatest Australian batsmen I’ve ever seen but smith has easily taken that mantle from him.

His average was over 60 in the first half of his career but headed south as time went on. Hope Smudge can stay over 60.

 

[Pete Cash]

how good is smudge

 

[JokerEel]

Can Smith Pass The Don for most Ashes Hundreds?

 

[Sans Souci Sainter]

He is a drunken Samurai Pizza Cat swatting flies with itchy undies and I love him.

 

[simmo1]

Is Smith the 'best since Bradman' or was Bradman the 'best til Smith'?

 

[VictoryFC]

At the moment I'd have Khawaja back in the team. He's not great, but he's probably a better option than Wade or Harris and even Warner.

I think Warner will stay in the team, because without any clearly better replacements, experience wins out.

The problem with our middle order is that they're always coming into situations which are precarious. What is the point of having Wade when he's an explosive batter who doesn't have the discipline to assess the situation and bat accordingly. Bloke thinks he's coming in at 300-4.

So I wouldn't mind seeing one of the top order batsmen drop down significantly. Khawaja as you say isn't a bad shout to anchor the middle order instead of having a clown like Wade in there.

Alternatively, we have Joe Burns to turn to play around with the top order. Just someone with a bit of test cricketing nous wouldn't go astray. And you can plonk them wherever you want in the order.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Smith is made to look like a god compared to the hobos he plays with.

 

[undertaker]

His average was over 60 in the first half of his career but headed south as time went on. Hope Smudge can stay over 60.

Ponting's average exploded from 40.51 (before his 144 at Headingley during the 2001 Ashes) to a peak of 60.67 after his century during the 2006 "Amazing Adelaide" test, before it nosedived during the last 6 years of his career back to 51.85 at retirement.

He scored truckloads of runs in his purple patch during 2002-06 before his Kookaburra Graphite bat was banned by the ICC.

 

[King hit]

His average was over 60 in the first half of his career but headed south as time went on. Hope Smudge can stay over 60.

Yeah he did play on a little to long

 

[VictoryFC]

Saw this on reddit.

Fewest innings to 26 test 100s

Bradman 69
Smithers 121
Tendulkar 136
Gavaskar 144
Hayden 155

 

[hineyrulz]

The poms have got about as much chance of getting Smith as I have of winning Mr Universe

What about Miss Universe??? Having no dick now must help??

 

[Raiders_Premiers]

It's a bit of a joke how good Bradman was when Smiffy is God and can't even get near him

 

[hineyrulz]

Don't understand this tbh. We boo most of these f*ers when they pop over here. What's the big deal?

He's spanked 3 tons and a 90 in 4 digs and they are still booing him. That look like absolute Flogs for continually booing every time he moves while cheering a lunatic like Stokes.

 

[hineyrulz]

And we don't cheer when blokes get badly f**king concussed. Poms are pathetic. Warm, shit beer drinking, snaggle toothed turds.

This made me lol quite a deal.

 

[hineyrulz]

Ponting's average exploded from 40.51 (before his 144 at Headingley during the 2001 Ashes) to a peak of 60.67 after his century during the 2006 "Amazing Adelaide" test, before it nosedived during the last 6 years of his career back to 51.85 at retirement.

He scored truckloads of runs in his purple patch during 2002-06 before his Kookaburra Graphite bat was banned by the ICC.

That bat was a beauty, even I scored runs with that bat

 

[King hit]

Our bowlers would be licking their lips bowling in these conditions

 

[VictoryFC]

Laugh out loud

 

[King hit]

Drops an absolute sitter

 

[Raiders_Premiers]

Ponting's average exploded from 40.51 (before his 144 at Headingley during the 2001 Ashes) to a peak of 60.67 after his century during the 2006 "Amazing Adelaide" test, before it nosedived during the last 6 years of his career back to 51.85 at retirement.

He scored truckloads of runs in his purple patch during 2002-06 before his Kookaburra Graphite bat was banned by the ICC.

Let's be honest here. Ponting scored a lot of his runs in that peak against spuds: India at home, the West Indies, the roads of the UAE. I always felt so few of his runs came in really testing conditions or situations.

Further to that, he had the luxury of batting with the best batsman and playing with the best team of that generation. Smith's career is far from over and thus full judgement on him shouldn't be made, but I can't see in any world where Ponting is better than him. In fact, I put both Waugh and Border clearly ahead of him because of their ability to churn out difficult runs.

If Smith fixes his record against SA and Sri Lanka by the time he retires, which you'd be pretty confident in him doing, it'll be no contest - second to Bradman.