1st Test Sri Lanka v Australia Jan 29-Feb 2 1500hrs @ Galle International Stadium

Who will win?


  • Total voters
    54
  • Poll closed .

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Interesting that despite Smith’s high average he’s only gone on to make 4 double hundreds. Lots of scores 150+ though. Well short of Bradman (12), Sangakkara (11) and Lara (9).

Puts Smith alongside Clarke and G Chappel for the Aussies. The crazy thing about Clarke is he made all of his double hundreds in 2012.
Would have a few more i reckon if he had some team mates that could hang around with him during his prime.
 
Lara faced: Akram, Younis, Donald, Pollock, McGrath, Gillespie, Kumble, Warne, Murali, Vettori, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmed.

Lara batted in a golden era for fast bowlers and spinners...the depth collectively was very very good. Thats the key word....collectively.
I am in the Smith is the best i have ever seen camp but i won't argue people who put up Lara or Tendulkar.

Will be an interesting watch to see where Smith ends up still, who knows how much longer he has left. If he can maintain his current form for another 12 months and make bank against the Windies and England who he has a great record against it will do his case for best since Bradman no harm.
 
I am in the Smith is the best i have ever seen camp but i won't argue people who put up Lara or Tendulkar.

Will be an interesting watch to see where Smith ends up still, who knows how much longer he has left. If he can maintain his current form for another 12 months and make bank against the Windies and England who he has a great record against it will do his case for best since Bradman no harm.
I love smudge and statistically will be better than lara

but I can't go past Brian ...when on he just Terrified attacks.....Mcgrath Warne Gillespie Lee all in there pomp ..lara smashed them
 

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I love smudge and statistically will be better than lara

but I can't go past Brian ...when on he just Terrified attacks.....Mcgrath Warne Gillespie Lee all in there pomp ..lara smashed them
Totally fair argument.

My only counter argument to why i lean Smith would be i feel no one has made as many tough runs as Smith has. The toughest pitches, in the biggest matches he has constantly dragged his team along. One of the most well rounded resumes you can possibly get.
 
1- Brian Lara
2- Sachin Tendulkar
3- Ricky Ponting
4- Rahul Dravid
5- Jacques Kallis
6- Kumar Sangarkara
7- Mohammad Yousif

7 players off the top of my head I’d have above Smith in my opinion.

Not basing anything on stats or averages just gut feel.
 
Brian Charles Lara.

My childhood hero.

I use to love going to the nets pretending to be Lara in the early 90s.

I used to pretend to be Martin Crowe, he's still the greatest NZ batsman despite Williamson being statistically better than him.

Statistics aren't everything, style and swagger counts too and Martin Crowe had both in spades.



 
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The fact that we can now lump in Steve Smith with Brian Lara is already evidence that he is possibly the second best ever out of all Australian Test cricketers. Many (me included) would no doubt have written him off post-ban but he is still delivering. Root is still going, but he has left Kohli and Williamson behind now.

It's not an indictment or criticism that he's not as good as Bradman, Tendulkar or Lara. Being in the discussion for a top 5 list of all time Test players is already remarkable enough.
 
I am in the Smith is the best i have ever seen camp but i won't argue people who put up Lara or Tendulkar.

Will be an interesting watch to see where Smith ends up still, who knows how much longer he has left. If he can maintain his current form for another 12 months and make bank against the Windies and England who he has a great record against it will do his case for best since Bradman no harm.

Well the West Indies aren't good and haven't been for years..
 
Totally fair argument.

My only counter argument to why i lean Smith would be i feel no one has made as many tough runs as Smith has. The toughest pitches, in the biggest matches he has constantly dragged his team along. One of the most well rounded resumes you can possibly get.

Smith (not his fault) didn't face the type of bowlers (pace/spin) collectively that Lara and Tendulkar faced. When they played it was a tougher/stronger era of Test cricket.

Smith is still an all time great. Rankong him of course is the toughest part.
 
Allan Border was once the all time highest test run scorer.

Now he isn't even in the top 10 highest test run scorers and Ponting has gone past him with Smith closing in on his record.

I would still rate Border as the greatest Australian batsman I have seen due to the quality of the bowling attacks he faced.

I am not old enough to have seen Bradman but he never faced the great Windies bowling attacks at their peak like Border.
 
I used to pretend to be Martin Crowe, he's still the greatest NZ batsman despite Williamson being statistically better than him.

Statistics aren't everything, style and swagger counts too and Martin Crowe had both in spades.




Great choice Martin Crowe was a gun.
 

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Allan Border was once the all time highest test run scorer.

Now he isn't even in the top 10 highest test run scorers and Ponting has gone past him with Smith closing in on his record.

I would still rate Border as the greatest Australian batsman I have seen due to the quality of the bowling attacks he faced.

I am not old enough to have seen Bradman but he never faced the great Windies bowling attacks at their peak like Border.
Great counter argument


Totally fair argument.

My only counter argument to why i lean Smith would be i feel no one has made as many tough runs as Smith has. The toughest pitches, in the biggest matches he has constantly dragged his team along. One of the most well rounded resumes you can possibly get.
Smith makes his runs look tough by the way he plays. Lara made his runs look easy.
 
Australian Batsman: 1000+ Runs in Asia

Ricky Ponting
Matches: 28
Innings: 48
Runs: 1889
Average: 41.97
Highest Score: 150
50s: 10
100s: 5
50+ Scores: 15
Not Outs: 3
Ducks: 3

Steve Smith
Matches: 23
Innings: 41
Runs: 1826
Average: 50.72
Highest Score: 178 not out
50s: 8
100s: 6
50+ Scores: 14
Not Outs: 5
Ducks: 3


Allan Border
Matches: 22
Innings: 39
Runs: 1799
Average: 54.51
Highest Score: 162
50s: 8
100s: 6
50+ Scores: 14
Not Outs: 6
Ducks: 0

Matthew Hayden
Matches: 19
Innings: 35
Runs: 1663
Average: 50.39
Highest Score: 203
50s: 8
100s: 4
50+ Scores: 12
Not Outs: 2
Ducks: 2

Usman Khawaja
Matches: 17
Innings: 29
Runs: 1459
Average: 60.79
Highest Score: 180
50s: 6
100s: 5
50+ Scores: 11
Not Outs: 5
Ducks: 2


David Warner
Matches: 22
Innings: 42
Runs: 1300
Average: 31.70
Highest Score: 133
50s: 7
100s: 3
50+ Scores: 10
Not Outs: 1
Ducks: 2

Michael Clarke
Matches: 20
Innings: 37
Runs: 1294
Average: 36.97
Highest Score: 151
50s: 5
100s: 4
50+ Scores: 9
Not Outs: 2
Ducks: 1

Steve Waugh
Matches: 23
Innings: 35
Runs: 1205
Average: 41.55
Highest Score: 157
50s: 5
100s: 3
50+ Scores: 8
Not Outs: 6
Ducks: 6

Michael Hussey
Matches: 11
Innings: 19
Runs: 1198
Average: 63.05
Highest Score: 182
50s: 5
100s: 4
50+ Scores: 9
Not Outs: 0
Ducks: 0

Justin Langer
Matches: 20
Innings: 33
Runs: 1099
Average: 33.30
Highest Score: 166
50s: 6
100s: 2
50+ Scores: 8
Not Outs: 0
Ducks: 3

Mark Waugh
Matches: 22
Innings: 36
Runs: 1096
Average: 32.23
Highest Score: 153 not out
50s: 8
100s: 2
50+ Scores: 10
Not Outs: 2
Ducks: 10

Michael Slater
Matches: 16
Innings: 28
Runs: 1036
Average: 38.37
Highest Score: 110
50s: 5
100s: 2
50+ Scores: 7
Not Outs: 1
Ducks: 3

Mark Taylor
Matches: 13
Innings: 24
Runs: 1020
Average: 48.57
Highest Score: 334 not out
50s: 3
100s: 2
50+ Scores: 5
Not Outs: 3
Ducks: 2


Players in bold - still playing.
 
Crazy, crazy day at the cricket. Apart from a stunning performance by the Aussies it was an unforgetable day where i somehow managed to wrangle an invite into the freaking commentary box. So there i was, literally standing behind the likes of Katich, Sivaramakrishnan etc watching the cricket, gobsmacked to be there and witness to the whole production process. Just one of those right time, right place moments, so insanely lucky and will never forget it.

Though i bought a $2 ticket i ended up getting the lunch option in the members, which you need to arrange on the day from 8am. Well worth it for 7500 rupee. Last session was spent roaming around various stands meeting locals and Aussie supporters, and not a dull conversation in what was one of the most festive atmospheres i've seen at the cricket. Also got a selfie with local Galle boy Kamindu Mendis, one of my favourite cricketers

For anyone going there is a beer bar on the grassy section but no bar on the opposite side so everyone (incl me) would get drinks from across the road from the local 'wine shop' making it a cheaper option than the members. Final note is a shout out to the ground staff for their masterful, strategic efforts in covering the entire field with the biggest tarps you'll ever see. They are simply the best in the business.
 
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2-300 odd is an embarrassment for test cricket. People here who complained about the spicy wickets in Australia and 250 being a good score seriously this shits better? Absolutely pointless day of test cricket may aswell have bowling machines shooting half volleys at blokes in the nets and keep the score afterwards.
 
Smith (not his fault) didn't face the type of bowlers (pace/spin) collectively that Lara and Tendulkar faced. When they played it was a tougher/stronger era of Test cricket.

Smith is still an all time great. Rankong him of course is the toughest part.
Disagree that it is substantial and honestly debatable Steyn, Bumrah, Ashwin, Anderson, Broad, Herath, Boult, Rabada, Philander are all world class and some of the GOATS of that particular Country.
 
2-300 odd is an embarrassment for test cricket. People here who complained about the spicy wickets in Australia and 250 being a good score seriously this shits better? Absolutely pointless day of test cricket may aswell have bowling machines shooting half volleys at blokes in the nets and keep the score afterwards.
I enjoyed it, i can enjoy both. Also need the context of they missed several chances that could have made it much closer.
 
Great counter argument



Smith makes his runs look tough by the way he plays. Lara made his runs look easy.
Nah Smith makes it look easy while others around him make it look tough. He is not as elegant as Lara but he is every bit as effective.
 
2-300 odd is an embarrassment for test cricket. People here who complained about the spicy wickets in Australia and 250 being a good score seriously this shits better? Absolutely pointless day of test cricket may aswell have bowling machines shooting half volleys at blokes in the nets and keep the score afterwards.
Sri Lanka had their chances to make inroads, they didn't take them and the batters made them pay. That's cricket for you Kenty.
 
Sri Lanka had their chances to make inroads, they didn't take them and the batters made them pay. That's cricket for you Kenty.
This ain't the peak Australian test side from 2000. This was a make shift order who could barely score runs this summer batting easily. Won't be surprised if Sri Lanka do something similar.
 
Well the West Indies aren't good and haven't been for years..

They can still pull off upsets against stronger opponents because they 1) have character lacking from old WI sides and 2) their bowlers (Shamar especially) have displayed great potential.
 

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1st Test Sri Lanka v Australia Jan 29-Feb 2 1500hrs @ Galle International Stadium


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