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Graeme Smith vs Gordon Greenidge

Who is the better test batsman?

  • Total voters
    27
BazBall21

BazBall21

International Captain
It's not just about eras also. More specifically, South Africans got particularly good batting conditions in those days. Probably an attempt to neutralise their strong bowling attack.
 
Adorable Asshole

Adorable Asshole

International Regular
BazBall21 said:
I think it definitely can. Particularly considering Greenidge's longer career. Smith's record carries a lot more minnow bullying than Gordon's too.
Click to expand...
No. Smith away record without Minnow is still far better than Gordon's

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/e...rderby=default;template=results;type=allround

BazBall21 said:
It's not just about eras also. More specifically, South Africans got particularly good batting conditions in those days. Probably an attempt to neutralise their strong bowling attack.
Click to expand...
You are shooting yourself in the foot with this.
 
Teja.

Teja.

Global Moderator
It's worth noting that Greenidge had an 18 year career whereas Sehwag, Hayden and Smith had effective test careers of about 10 years. His average of 45~ over 1974-1991 is still better relative to his era compared to what the three jocks achieved in the 00s but even leaving that aside, having double the longevity of the competition should be given a lot of consideration.

The other side of this is that Greenidge in his 10 year 'prime' between 1976 and 1985 (which is about as long as the careers of the biff 3) had much better numbers than his overall ones. He was one of the 4-5 batsman of the time nudging an average of 50 and considered one of the top batsmen of his era a decade into his career. He was still very useful for his team for several years after that but playing on for 7 more years after his peak as a 40 average opener (which was still high quality for the time) has sorta affected how he is viewed on CW I think.

This is Greenidge compared to other openers from 1976 to 1985 with min 1000 runs:

1695927224433.png
 
BazBall21

BazBall21

International Captain
Adorable Asshole said:
No. Smith away record without Minnow is still far better than Gordon's

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/e...rderby=default;template=results;type=allround


You are shooting yourself in the foot with this.
Click to expand...
Meant overall re minnows point. Runs at home still matter. Both opened in tough conditions. Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad are nasty for opening.

Data still suggests Smith had much easier conditions away from home. Can argue part of that is down to the Windies slashing RPW figures but during four of the five tests in which Smith made a hundred in England, one of the two teams made a score of at least 590. Greenidge faced some very harsh conditions in Australia during the first half of his career too.
 
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