4 & 5

[sunilz]

Gonna be hilarious to see your reaction if he bats like he did over there last time and his average goes up.

As long as India wins, I don't care tbh. Team wins are more important than individual accolades

India probably will have more players than Australia in ODI ATXI. But Australia has 5 WC , IND has only 2 .

 

[Burgey]

Lol, I dunno man, you're the one who said "let's see how he goes when he tours India again."

Also, let's be honest here, India wouldn't have more players in an ATG OD team if the side had to play away from home and if it was playing for sheep stations.

 

[stephen]

Much is said about Tendulkar's adaptability and I do agree. On every tour here he adapted very well to the SCG. Other grounds notsomuch.

 

[TheJediBrah]

No batsman is completely flawless though. But those flaws don't matter much in the grand scheme as ATGs still manage mountains of runs with their strengths. But in such comparisons it is worth bringing out any slight weakness if it means it cost them their wicket in a situation where the other may have survived or thrived.

Otherwise let's just disregard your own observations having watched them played, all the comments from ex-cricketers who played against them, complimenting how adaptive Tendulkar was or how wonderful the way Lara played spin. Let's just assume they were all equally flawless in the way they played and just look only at raw stats to decide everything.

The point is that the statement that Sachin had a better technique is highly dubious. I get why you would think that, given he is more textbook and compact, and even being a short guy with short arms (yes seriously) adds to this perception.

But more textbook =/= better technique. Smith has demonstrated that emphatically. The best technique is the one that brings success, not one that fits a preconceived idea of what a good technique should look like.

Honestly if I had to pick one to play and succeed against ATG bowlers it would be Lara or Smith over Sachin. But that's just based on how I've seen them play and my own perceptions.

 

[TheJediBrah]

As long as India wins, I don't care tbh. Team wins are more important than individual accolades

look at your post that he was responding to lol you're the one that brought it up

 

[Burgey]

Smith has demonstrated that emphatically

Bradman even more so.

 

[sunilz]

look at your post that he was responding to lol you're the one that brought it up

He asked for my reaction if Smith's average goes up. And my response is good on him if his average goes up . As long as IND wins test series, I am happy.

Tendulkar was probably the best Test+ ODI batsman in 90s. But IND was rank 5-8 team in 90s. Team wins matter more to me.

 

[TheJediBrah]

He asked for my reaction if Smith's average goes up. And my response is good on him if his average goes up . As long as IND wins test series, I am happy.

Tendulkar was probably the best Test+ ODI batsman in 90s. But IND was rank 5-8 team in 90s. Team wins matter more to me.

Ok captain obvious

 

[The Sean]

People talking about Steve Smith's average and what will happen to it next time the Australian Test team "tours" India or "tours" Asia.

What is this "touring" thing that you refer to?

 

[TheJediBrah]

People talking about Steve Smith's average and what will happen to it next time the Australian Test team "tours" India or "tours" Asia.

What is this "touring" thing that you refer to?

Oh dw when making money is involved Cricket Australia will be more than happy to try this novel concept again

 

[h_hurricane]

Oh that's ok because I'm just sitting on the toilet and can look it up

36.77

Meanwhile Lara averaged 46.38 in games involving McGrath

Tendulkar averaged 36.77 in matches involving Mcgrath. Lara averaged 46.38 likewise.

Tendulkar averaged 32.90 in matches involving Donald. Lara averaged 34.10.

Donald dismissed Lara on an average as frequently as Mcgrath when he played him, and Sachin a little less frequently.

Allan Donald is a ****ing legend and arguably a better bowler than Mcgrath against opposition's best batsmen.

 

[Burgey]

No, he really isn’t

 

[harsh.ag]

The point is that the statement that Sachin had a better technique is highly dubious. I get why you would think that, given he is more textbook and compact, and even being a short guy with short arms (yes seriously) adds to this perception.

But more textbook =/= better technique. Smith has demonstrated that emphatically. The best technique is the one that brings success, not one that fits a preconceived idea of what a good technique should look like.

Honestly if I had to pick one to play and succeed against ATG bowlers it would be Lara or Smith over Sachin. But that's just based on how I've seen them play and my own perceptions.

This is true for peak and until hand-eye coordination is good, as demonstrated by many great batsmen. But what also matters is what happens when hand-eye and reflexes diminish. Tendulkar had his second sustained peak primarily because of his strong technique. So there is a component of long-term success that is being overlooked in this statement. Of course, if Smith continues to be great with age passing, absolutely he can/should be rated above Tendulkar.

 

[_00_deathscar]

lol like who?

This just makes the entire discussion circuitous.

Well, at least similar players at the very least (or somewhat comparable if you consider Smith a clear #2 or whatever) have had dips. And this is assuming his dip is only 40 or so.

Granted no one thinks Kohli is as good in tests and is a fair bit behind, but look at the dip he's going through right now.

 

[Arachnodouche]

No, he really isn’t

There is a half point difference in average between McGrath and Donald. Donald has the comfortably better SR and most neutral observers will admit he was the more complete fast bowler too. I think Australians underrate him because he went somewhat missing against them but both bowlers have near identical home and away records against the other side while generally performing below their mean. Fair to say McGrath is the greater bowler but it isn't as unequivocal as made out.

 

[Burgey]

“He was the more complete fast bowler” who went missing against the best side of his era.

That’s a, well a novel definition of “complete.”

 

[kyear2]

A couple of persons here have referenced the benefit of having a left hander in the middle of the lineup to mix it up a bit, otherwise it's all right handers down to Sobers and Gilly at 6 and 7.

If that sentiment bears merit, then the case of Lara at 4 is more compelling.

The battle for the no. 5 position would then come down to a choice between Sachin or Smith. Even if they are identical batsmen, Smith being an ATG slip fielder has to give him the advantage over the little master.

A cordon of Lara, Sobers and Smith, with Warne or Sunny in the gully would be peerless.

That pretty much settles most of my team (I think), at least for now.

And just to clarify, I look at it more as a selector picking the best team to take the field, rather than honoring a career.

Len Hutton
Sunil Gavaskar
Don Bradman
Brian Lara
Steve Smith
Garry Sobers
Adam Gilchrist
Richard Hadlee
Malcolm Marshall
Shane Warne
Dale Steyn / Imran Khan

The reason I'm still going with Steyn is primarily because I want a bowler from the modern era, who would have experienced these flatter pitches. Also kinda don't want all of the bowlers from the same era, I'd that makes any sense.

But to get back on topic, I thinks it was Subz that would have stated some of Lara's issues. He is a little more vulnerable at the start of innings than Sachin and he wasn't the fondest against hight quality short bowling. But besides Viv, who was? He did have though, some of the most iconic and dominating innings and series I've ever witnessed.
Smith is a machine, and while I'm still not sure how his technique may have held up in previous eras, he can only face the bowlers of this one, and has dominated. His batting combined with his hands and fielding and the ability to chip in a few overs if needed makes this choice a little less difficult than I would have thought.

 

[_00_deathscar]

“He was the more complete fast spin bowler” who went missing against the best side of his era.

That’s a, well a novel definition of “complete.”

Hi, guess who...

 

[TheJediBrah]

Hi, guess who...

Murali?

 

[_00_deathscar]

Murali?

In short, all spinners suck. Go with an 8 man pace attack - even your back up/part time bowlers should be serious heat.