What would it take for Joe Root to surpass Steve Smith as a Test Batter?

[IcarianStyles]

For me it would be:

1. Joe Root to become the leading Test run scorer of all time, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar.

2. Joe Root to maintain his Test batting average of over 50 for rest of his career.

3. Steve Smith Test batting average (56.00) to drop below Kane Williamson (54.06).


- The first point is obvious. Joe Root would have GOAT-like longevity that Smith doesn't have.
- The second point is throughout cricketing history, 50 is generally the magic number for the benchmark of statistical cricket batting excellence.
- The third point is Steve Smith won't have the test batting average advantage in his favour among the Fab 4 members and thus the gap between Root and Smith's average won't be that much significant.

 

[Abhay423]

First of all, he needs to fix the surfboard on his pads. He has been LBW 7 times out of his last 10 dismissals. Looks hapless to me when keeper comes up to the stumps, never seen a top batter get so fidgety and tentative that quickly just by a simple move.

 

[Johan]

First of all, he needs to fix the surfboard on his pads. He has been LBW 7 times out of his last 10 dismissals. Looks hapless to me when keeper comes up to the stumps, never seen a top batter get so fidgety and tentative that quickly just by a simple move.

You should watch Lara when a bowler started bowling over 140.

 

[Adders]

I don't necessarily subscribe to the idea but if this was to a universally accepted rating ie even the Aussies can't dispute it.........then he probably also needs a monster Ashes series, preferably in Aus.

 

[Daemon]

He would need to answer some questions

 

[DrWolverine]

Steve Smith having a Virat like decline(avg below 50)
Root continues to play like this and surpass Sachin.

 

[Abhay423]

You should watch Lara when a bowler started bowling over 140.

Lara was affected due to his eye issues. Anyways it's not like Root is some God against high pace. Cummins exists.

 

[TheJediBrah]

For me it would be:
1. Joe Root to become the leading Test run scorer of all time, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar.
- The first point is obvious. Joe Root would have GOAT-like longevity that Smith doesn't have.

Objectively wrong. Root hasn't had more longevity by any metric, actually Smith debuted 2 years earlier though he wasn't a regular until 2013. England just play more test matches (and more against minnows)

2. Joe Root to maintain his Test batting average of over 50 for rest of his career.
- The second point is throughout cricketing history, 50 is generally the magic number for the benchmark of statistical cricket batting excellence.

Unless Smith's drops below 50, this is meaningless

3. Steve Smith Test batting average (56.00) to drop below Kane Williamson (54.06).
- The third point is Steve Smith won't have the test batting average advantage in his favour among the Fab 4 members and thus the gap between Root and Smith's average won't be that much significant.

Since we're talking pure stats, if Smith's average does drop to 54 he's still going to be superior to Root by that metric unless Root's goes up above 54.

Even if they ended up averaging the same there's no reason to rate Root higher, if anything Smith's away average is vastly superior both relatively and absolutely to Root's

If we're being real and looking only at average, Root would have to end up with a career average at least 2 or 3 runs higher than Smith to be considered as good, or better

 

[Johan]

Lara was affected due to his eye issues. Anyways it's not like Root is some God against high pace. Cummins exists.

Forget Cummins, even an inform Lara could be beaten by the pace of a Ntini level bowler.

 

[Abhay423]

Forget Cummins, even an inform Lara could be beaten by the pace of a Ntini level bowler.

Ntini wasn't slow.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

I

For me it would be:

1. Joe Root to become the leading Test run scorer of all time, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar.

2. Joe Root to maintain his Test batting average of over 50 for rest of his career.

3. Steve Smith Test batting average (56.00) to drop below Kane Williamson (54.06).


- The first point is obvious. Joe Root would have GOAT-like longevity that Smith doesn't have.
- The second point is throughout cricketing history, 50 is generally the magic number for the benchmark of statistical cricket batting excellence.
- The third point is Steve Smith won't have the test batting average advantage in his favour among the Fab 4 members and thus the gap between Root and Smith's average won't be that much significant.

I don't think it is possible. The gap is a very big one.

1. How will Root's longevity be better? It is just that England play more tests and Smith was banned for a year at his peak.

2. Will probably need to get the average up to at leaat 52 which won't happen especially as he is averaging 30 this season.

3. That could happen. Smith will be facing some elite attacks in coming months.

 

[trundler]

Well he'd have to become significantly less soft and actually score tough runs and that's basically a different batsman at that point.

 

[GIMH]

Well he'd have to become significantly less soft and actually score tough runs and that's basically a different batsman at that point.

Possibly the most stupid post you’ve ever made. Well done

 

[Adders]

Possibly the most stupid post you’ve ever made. Well done

As soon as I saw this thread I knew it would descend rapidly....... @trundler in with the first howler, but wait.........we've still got @Burgey to come.

 

[GIMH]

1. How will Root's longevity be better? It is just that England play more tests and Smith was banned for a year at his peak.

I really am baffled when people churn this ‘it’s just England play more tests’ line. The fact this is true makes it all the more impressive when players like Root carry on for a decade and a half with high outputs. Captain twice including the Covid era ffs! While Smith got a year out because he’s a cheat. And Smith’s peak is almost as historic as my hairline. It’s a fairly easy argument at this stage to go for longevity in favour of Root.

All that being said. Smith’s peak is the best for any batsman this century. If you want to argue who was better at their best I can’t see that ever not being Smith. Root has been the better of the two for a few years now though, that much is clearly true, so it depends how you want to look at it.

 

[Shri]

root will never reach smith level

 

[Molehill]

root will never reach smith level

Smith has reached the highest peaks, but by some margin, he's plumbed the depths. So long as Root never gets done for blatant cheating, it's not even close.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Smith has reached the highest peaks, but by some margin, he's plumbed the depths. So long as Root never gets done for blatant cheating, it's not even close.

Ashes: Former Australian fast bowler accuses Joe Root of 'blatant cheating'

Ex-Australian star turned coach calls out England captain for cheating.

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[TheJediBrah]

Root has been the better of the two for a few years now though, that much is clearly true, so it depends how you want to look at it.

Smith has been averaging nigh on 50 playing on mostly minefields whereas Root has been roading it up on bazball highways

 

[Johan]

Possibly the most stupid post you’ve ever made. Well done

quite an impressive achievement given how consistently garbage his posting is on all fronts.