The Ashes 2017/18

[westdog54]

Re: The Ashes 2017/18

Could you imagine him in the modern era with year round cricket, ten test playing nations and covered wickets?

[Twodogs]

Re: The Ashes 2017/18

The other thing that's gets overlooked is he did it at all levels, consistently, over a very long time.

He played 234 first class games, made 117 centuries, and averaged 95.14 at that level as well. He even averaged above 90 at Grade cricket level.

Twenty years he dominated international attacks. Beaser was the only one that came close to getting the better of him (without breaking the rules) and Bedser was 10 years younger than Bradman.

Could you imagine him in the modern era with year round cricket, ten test playing nations and covered wickets?

And half a baseball bat in his hands. I think he particularly would have thrived these days because Bradman played in that cross bat sort of style. Most coachs will do their level best to coach out of that style so they can teach you to "play correctly".

[Bornadog]

Re: The Ashes 2017/18

[westdog54]

Re: The Ashes 2017/18

There is daylight between Smith and the #2 ranking, which is Virat Kohli.

It really has been an astounding year's cricket and there is still one test to go.

[westdog54]

Re: The Ashes 2017/18

Astoundingly, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins both made the top 100 in the rankings as batsmen, without their bowling coming into the picture.

[westdog54]

Re: The Ashes 2017/18

Some food for thought on Smith going forward:

Sachin Tendulkar played 329 test innings (200 tests) for 15921 runs
Ricky Ponting played 287 test innings (168 tests) for 13378 runs

Smith has played 108 innings (59 tests) for 5796 runs.

Assuming that ratio of runs to innings continues:

If he matches Tendulkar for innings played, he will have made 17565 runs by the time he retires.

If he matches Ponting for innings played (a more realistic comparison given how young Tendulkar started) he will have made 15402 runs by the time he retires and will be second only to Tendulkar.

[Twodogs]

Re: The Ashes 2017/18

Some food for thought on Smith going forward:

Sachin Tendulkar played 329 test innings (200 tests) for 15921 runs
Ricky Ponting played 287 test innings (168 tests) for 13378 runs

Smith has played 108 innings (59 tests) for 5796 runs.

Assuming that ratio of runs to innings continues:

If he matches Tendulkar for innings played, he will have made 17565 runs by the time he retires.

If he matches Ponting for innings played (a more realistic comparison given how young Tendulkar started) he will have made 15402 runs by the time he retires and will be second only to Tendulkar.

Some serious talent there. Such huge numbers.

From memory Bradman is 52 tests, 80 innings, 10 no, 6996 @ 99.96. So if Bradman was playing now and played day 260 tests he'd make around 28 000 runs.

[westdog54]

Re: The Ashes 2017/18

Some serious talent there. Such huge numbers.

From memory Bradman is 52 tests, 80 innings, 10 no, 6996 @ 99.96. So if Bradman was playing now and played day 260 tests he'd make around 28 000 runs.

First off, if the 52 tests and 80 innings was 'from memory' then you're a *!*!*!*!ing freak because you're bang on.

Secondly, your maths is good. Had he played the same number of innings as Tendulkar at his ratio of runs to innings he would have scored 28,771 runs.

Another thing I just noticed. In Bradman's 80 innings, he had 29 100s and 13 50s. More than 50% off his innings were half centuries.

[Bornadog]

Re: The Ashes 2017/18

It is very difficult to compare champions from the past to now, especially as there are now more test teams to play against, there are varying wickets from the sub continent to South Africa.

No doubt Bradman was a freak for his time, but I think in this age of professional fulltime athletes, Smith has to come up against some very good cricketers and his record is amazing.

[westdog54]

Re: The Ashes 2017/18

It is very difficult to compare champions from the past to now, especially as there are now more test teams to play against, there are varying wickets from the sub continent to South Africa.

No doubt Bradman was a freak for his time, but I think in this age of professional fulltime athletes, Smith has to come up against some very good cricketers and his record is amazing.

Wasn't Bradman a bit suspect against leg spin? He may have struggled on the sub continent.

[Twodogs]

Re: The Ashes 2017/18

Wasn't Bradman a bit suspect against leg spin? He may have struggled on the sub continent.

Jardine thought he gibbed it against fast, short pitched deliveries too.

It's not so much "Bradman had a weakness against leg spin" more along the lines of of "if Bradman had a weakness it may have been against leg spin" unfortunately the sample size of Bradman v quality leg spin is very small.

[Twodogs]

Re: The Ashes 2017/18

First off, if the 52 tests and 80 innings was 'from memory' then you're a *!*!*!*!ing freak because you're bang on.

Secondly, your maths is good. Had he played the same number of innings as Tendulkar at his ratio of runs to innings he would have scored 28,771 runs.

Another thing I just noticed. In Bradman's 80 innings, he had 29 100s and 13 50s. More than 50% off his innings were half centuries.

If you remember the 6996 how many 70 = 99.94 then the rest falls n place.

[Bulldog4life]

Re: The Ashes 2017/18

I'm sure I'm the only one, but reading that headline makes me want to see Smith walking out to this when he comes in to bat:

You are not the only one westdog. Of course he would have to do the actions too. Love it.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: The Ashes 2017/18

Bancroft with just 179 runs in 4 tests, for the most part with great batting pitches. I wonder if he gets more time than others who have been underwhelming in recent times.

[Bornadog]

Re: The Ashes 2017/18

Bancroft with just 179 runs in 4 tests, for the most part with great batting pitches. I wonder if he gets more time than others who have been underwhelming in recent times.

Not sure why we didn't keep Renshaw in the role to see how he went.

Ussie also in a bit of trouble with an indifferent Ashes series. 11, 53, 23, 50, and in Melbourne 17 and 11.