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

[flibbertyjibber]

Ignore the Root in Australia stuff, that is just a sideshow but for me as good as Root is he isn't as good as peak Smith was who was probably even better than peak Ponting he was that good.

A wonderful player and the best English bat I have seen but Smith was better, might not be now but over a career you have to say Smith even if he was a cheat.

 

[DrWolverine]

Smith was better, might not be now but over a career you have to say Smith even if he was a cheat.

The ban was very harsh.
Maybe 1-2 match would have been sufficient.

 

[cricketfan55]

The ban was very harsh.
Maybe 1-2 match would have been sufficient.

IIRC the ICC only banned Smith for 1 match.

A wonderful player and the best English bat I have seen but Smith was better, might not be now but over a career you have to say Smith even if he was a cheat.

Interesting point, Smith did miss 2 crucial series vs Pak and Vs Ind due to his cheating and subsequent ban and Australia's batting suffered significantly

 

[Molehill]

The ban was very harsh.
Maybe 1-2 match would have been sufficient.

Nah, it really wasn't. They'd clearly been doing it for years and frankly the bowlers should've gone down with him too - they all knew.

 

[Coronis]

Nah, it really wasn't. They'd clearly been doing it for years and frankly the bowlers should've gone down with him too - they all knew.

I assume you think Vaughan, Trescothick, Flintoff, Harmison, Jones, Hoggard and Giles should’ve been banned for a year after the 05 Ashes then? Maybe 6 months for Trescothick?

 

[Molehill]

I assume you think Vaughan, Trescothick, Flintoff, Harmison, Jones, Hoggard and Giles should’ve been banned for a year after the 05 Ashes then? Maybe 6 months for Trescothick?

Zero relevance to this thread. But as you asked, they weren’t stupid enough to get caught doing it overseas, so no.

 

[TheJediBrah]

they weren’t stupid enough to get caught doing it overseas, so no.

Actually a surprisingly valid point

When it comes to ball tampering/cheating the Aussies were unfortunately rank amateurs, they didn't have the experience or know-how of the English

 

[Nintendo]

Actually a surprisingly valid point

When it comes to ball tampering/cheating the Aussies were unfortunately rank amateurs, they didn't have the experience or know-how of the English

Unlike England in 05, we where good enough to not need it at home. Easier to get caught when you ball tamper away.

 

[Molehill]

Unlike England in 05, we where good enough to not need it at home. Easier to get caught when you ball tamper away.

Been doing at home for years (no one suddenly thinks on tour to try out some sandpaper, let alone that buffoon Warner), just didn't have anyone invested in trying to spot it (still can't even be bothered to invest in a half decent DRS system FFS). Stuart Broad knew.....

 

[GoodAreasShane]

Been doing at home for years (no one suddenly thinks on tour to try out some sandpaper, let alone that buffoon Warner), just didn't have anyone invested in trying to spot it (still can't even be bothered to invest in a half decent DRS system FFS). Stuart Broad knew.....

Broad wouldn't know **** considering he barely got a ball pitched in his half of the pitch all series

 

[mackembhoy]

If you compare their averages against the same bowlers (ie, not Aus or Eng), then it's Smith 55.9 and Root 53.6. Not inconceivable those numbers become quite similar by the end of their careers (they're not exactly a million miles away now).

Would Smith even average more than Root if he'd played 40 Tests against one of the best bowling line ups Aus have ever had, and faced a sandpapered ball?

The best thing posted on this thread.

Easy to say Smith is better when he's not had to face one of the greatest attacks of all time.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Nothing better than premium English cope, has me here like RandyMarsh.jpg

 

[IcarianStyles]

The best thing posted on this thread.

Easy to say Smith is better when he's not had to face one of the greatest attacks of all time.

Again we can easily say Root's average at home would also suffer if he had to face his own bowling attack against likes of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Woakes, Robinson, etc.

 

[Adders]

Nothing better than premium English cope, has me here like RandyMarsh.jpg

There absolutely is something better...........watching an Aussie try and claim the cricketing moral high ground.

 

[TheJediBrah]

There absolutely is something better...........watching an Aussie try and claim the cricketing moral high ground.

When it comes to morality, Australian cricket > Epstein > English cricket

 

[Adders]

When it comes to morality, Australian cricket > Epstein > English cricket

Kaboooom!!! And there it is folks!!!

Actually I think you'll find the opposite is the case

 

[GIMH]

I assume you think Vaughan, Trescothick, Flintoff, Harmison, Jones, Hoggard and Giles should’ve been banned for a year after the 05 Ashes then? Maybe 6 months for Trescothick?

Applying saliva to the ball wasn't against the rules. So this is a terrible attempt at equivalence.

 

[Shady Slim]

i am all for laughing at england to the betterment of australia but it's woeful form to be australian and try to compare sandpaper to the murray mints, sandpaper was so much worse. ffs have some humility that comes with the office of being the gold standard of cricket boys

 

[GIMH]

was nearly giving Shady's post a like then i read the last 5 words

 

[Molehill]

was nearly giving Shady's post a like then i read the last 5 words

He should've added "in their own minds" at the end.

Fun times of when Australia were in charge of where the line was you couldn't cross, but didn't tell anyone that sandpaper was ok.