Graeme Smith vs Kevin Pietersen - better test batsman?

[Plumbinfront]

KP : 88 Matches, 7076 @ 49.48, 21 tons
GS : 102 Matches, 8314@49.78, 25 tons

I'd say it's very close and I might just lean more towards Smith because of his propensity to play well under pressure. He is an absolute monster when the pressure is on, even better than the much heralded VVS Laxman in that regard. And who can forget his temerity to walk out with a broken hand and confront the vicious Australian attack?

[Burgey]

This will sound odd, but I think Pietersen is a better player, though Smith more likely to give consistent output.

I think Kevin Pietersen, to the extent you can call him English, is the best English batsman I've seen since Gower. Maybe the best I've ever seen. He's the batsman I want out cheapest and quickest. I think he's a better player than any of the 90s Pommie plodders who sometimes get yapped up on here. I think he's a better player than Gooch tbh, which is a big call I know.

In fact, Gower and Boycott are the only two Pommie batsmen I've seen who come close to him as a player. It's all subjective of course, but the rest of them are kidding if they think they're anywhere near the player he is. Pace, swing, seam, spin. Watch him bat; it all comes the same to him. Even 49 seems too low an average for him.

Seems a **** though.

[AndyZaltzHair]

KP. He's likely to get the runs in much quicker rate if that matters. I would pay to watch KP than Smith although this can't be a decisive factor in nominating who's the best among them. The thing is KP can force total domination over an attack and won't get easily bogged down. He has the ability to change the course of a match. Smith can really grind out and also attack when needed but it's a joy to watch KP in full flow. I admire Smith's courage though.

[grecian]

Smith, and Thorpe was better than KP.

[Burgey]

Another 90s plodder sorry. As I said, all subjective.

[grecian]

Originally Posted by Burgey

Another 90s plodder sorry. As I said, all subjective.

Just don't see how Thorpe can be seen as a plodder, he also played all bowling well, even SLA

I despise the bigging up of certain players from the 90s on here, but Thorpe was gritty and occasionally brilliant.

[Burgey]

Originally Posted by grecian

Just don't see how Thorpe can be seen as a plodder, he also played all bowling well, even SLA

I despise the bigging up of certain players from the 90s on here, but Thorpe was gritty and occasionally brilliant.

Yeah I accept he was a very fine player. The best of that time for England. I just rate Pietersen a bit higher.

Thorpe seems a lot less of a **** mind. A lot less.

[hazsa19]

KP has more talent, more shots, is more likely to rip an attack to shreds, everything everyone has already said on here.

However, I would rather have Smith in my team.

[L Trumper]

Originally Posted by grecian

Smith, and Thorpe was better than KP.

Thorpe was brilliant and best english batsmen of the 90s but by any categorical measure KP is better.

I am more in agreement with burgey. Boycott, KP, Gower, Gooch, Thorpe will be top 5 english bats of last 40 years. Order is probably subjective but I'd say KP will end up being the best along with probably Cook over all others in the group.

[Howe_zat]

Agree with Burgey here, KP is the best batsman I've ever seen play for England. There's a hard to describe discrepancy between how well someone plays and what you typically get from them. Smith hasn't played anywhere near as well as Pietersen can, if that makes sense. A comparison between Smith and Cook would be closer, I think.

[Agent Nationaux]

I would go with KP, but he has underachieved.

[smalishah84]

Smith being under rated here (as he always is ). He is probably the more dependable of the two

[Monk]

KP could have been one of the greatest of all time. Could tear an attack to shreds. When KP and Flintoff were 'on' in the 2005 Ashes, I think it was the first time Australia had feared an opponent in a decade.

Smith a consistent performer, and nice bloke. KP an enigmatic genius who seems to be a bit out there.

Completely different players with different roles, so hard to choose.

[VCC44]

KP probably the better batsman, more likely to go out and destroy an attack. That's when he's in the mood of course. If my life was depending on an innings I would rather it was Smith out in the middle.

[VCC44]

Originally Posted by grecian

Just don't see how Thorpe can be seen as a plodder, he also played all bowling well, even SLA

I despise the bigging up of certain players from the 90s on here, but Thorpe was gritty and occasionally brilliant.

I total agreement. My earliest cricketing idol and with good reason.