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I Dont' Like Cricket, Oh No, I Love it, Yeah

S

Suitman

Post Whore
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56,090
Happy MEel said:
Yep. This innings in particular he had every reason to not be at his peak mentally. Instead he tore the poms a new asshole and single handedly destroyed any sort of momentum they had coming into this match and having us 2 for f**k all.

I’ve been following cricket for 30 odd years and he’s the best I’ve seen.
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Mate, I've been following the game for over 45 years and I haven't seen anyone like him. Not for his greatness, nor his extraordinary averages, but mainly his style and technique.
Hussey and Hayden went through similar periods of extraordinary batting averages, but they were both pure cricketers and looked the part.
Smith is unique and so different to anything I've ever seen before. He has attributes and strengths that I've not seen before.
I also hope that at some stage, he regains the captaincy role. I reckon that if he'd played the 3rd test, we would have already had the Ashes wrapped up by now.
 
Barry O'Speedwagon

Barry O'Speedwagon

Coach
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19,394
Suitman said:
Mate, I've been following the game for over 45 years and I haven't seen anyone like him. Not for his greatness, nor his extraordinary averages, but mainly his style and technique.
Hussey and Hayden went through similar periods of extraordinary batting averages, but they were both pure cricketers and looked the part.
Smith is unique and so different to anything I've ever seen before. He has attributes and strengths that I've not seen before.
I also hope that at some stage, he regains the captaincy role. I reckon that if he'd played the 3rd test, we would have already had the Ashes wrapped up by now.
Click to expand...

I reckon it is both style and the numbers. He's definitely extraordinary to watch. But the numbers are also extraordinary. Smith has done this for twice as long as the other two. Since his 9th test he as averaged 70 or more......so he has averaged more than 70 over 58 consecutive tests and 103 innings, and more than 80 across his last 22 tests. Haydos averaged about 64 for 4 (about 30 tests) years in middle of his career (2001-early 04). Hussey averaged over 70 for about 20 tests, then dropped off.

Not sure about the captaincy to be honest, but won't complain if he does get it.
 
Eelogical

Eelogical

Referee
Messages
23,392
Suitman said:
Mate, I've been following the game for over 45 years and I haven't seen anyone like him. Not for his greatness, nor his extraordinary averages, but mainly his style and technique.
Hussey and Hayden went through similar periods of extraordinary batting averages, but they were both pure cricketers and looked the part.
Smith is unique and so different to anything I've ever seen before. He has attributes and strengths that I've not seen before.
I also hope that at some stage, he regains the captaincy role. I reckon that if he'd played the 3rd test, we would have already had the Ashes wrapped up by now.
Click to expand...
I've been watching cricket since the '77 Centenary test match and have seen a lot of extraordinary cricketers in that time. As far as style and technique is concerned, I'd have to say that Viv Richards tops the list of players that I've watched. I'm sure others will disagree with that statement but that's how I see it.
 
Happy MEel

Happy MEel

First Grade
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9,866
Eelogical said:
I've been watching cricket since the '77 Centenary test match and have seen a lot of extraordinary cricketers in that time. As far as style and technique is concerned, I'd have to say that Viv Richards tops the list of players that I've watched. I'm sure others will disagree with that statement but that's how I see it.
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Style and technique are some ways to assess cricketers. Mental fortitude and runs are another. Who is your best cricketer in the last 50 years?
 
Eelementary

Eelementary

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57,272
How is it even a debate, tbh?

Steve Smith comes to bat - anywhere in the world -, and dismantles bowling attacks, with incredible ease.

Few players in history have ever reached his incredibly insane levels of consistency - indeed, only the greatest of all time, Sir Donald Bradman, can lay claim to that.

Steven Smith is simply the greatest player of this generation, and it's not even close...
 
Eelogical

Eelogical

Referee
Messages
23,392
Happy MEel said:
Style and technique are some ways to assess cricketers. Mental fortitude and runs are another. Who is your best cricketer in the last 50 years?
Click to expand...
I'm still going to go with Viv Richards. His style and technique was something to behold. He backed himself and was always intimidating towards opposition teams. The only guy who was comfortable batting against fast bowling while donning a cap. He was also able to captain the WI team without losing form as well as bowl a few overs as well.
 
S

Suitman

Post Whore
Messages
56,090
Warner actually has a very good test record, he's just badly out of form atm, and Broad absolutely has worked him out.
21 centuries and 30 50's as an opener. Test average of about 46.
Mark Taylor went through a similar dry spell and eventually batted his way out of it. I'm sure Warner can do the same.
Doug Walters batted well everywhere except England. Maybe Warner is just not good in English test conditions?

As for the best test cricketer over the past 40 years......

It's a very difficult question to answer. There's been so many of them.
I'd probably agree with Baz and say Steve Waugh, but ultimately, was he better than Warne or McGrath?
Not to mention the multitudes of other international cricketers.
As for my favorite, without doubt it's Adam Gilchrist. The cleanest striker of a ball I've ever seen, and the most entertaining.
 
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