K's hommage to Steve Smith
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lazzadesilva
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I’m old enough to remember Garry Sobers advising youngsters to bat the natural way they bat and not to change. Smithy might not be conventional but geez, his test record is fantastic.
I term the current Collingwood attack based strategy “Unceasing Waves” like on a stormy and windy day with rough seas. A Perfect Storm 
Smith now has 9,079 Test runs, halfway through his 99th Test. He is the fastest of all time to 9,000 runs.
Hilariously, Lara still holds the "official" record for the most runs after the first 100 Tests - 8.916, to be precise. So, Smith could make first-ball ducks in the second innings of this game and both innings of his next and still take that record.
Hilariously, Lara still holds the "official" record for the most runs after the first 100 Tests - 8.916, to be precise. So, Smith could make first-ball ducks in the second innings of this game and both innings of his next and still take that record.
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/stat ... es-1384901
Despite his allegedly "defective technique", he picked up the following further records in that knock:
- fewest innings all-time to 32 Test centuries. His 172 innings easily bettered Ponting's 176.
- most centuries in the first innings of a Test match - His 22 takes over from Ponting's 21.
- equal-most first innings centuries after being put in to bat by the opposition. His 7 brings him level with Kallis, who previously held the record alone.
- the most Test centuries (8) by a visiting player in England, since (and apart from) Bradman. Smith has 7 visiting centuries against England - the other one came last month, of course, in the World Test Championship Final against India.
- the most Test centuries (12) against England by any bastman since Bradman.
Despite his allegedly "defective technique", he picked up the following further records in that knock:
- fewest innings all-time to 32 Test centuries. His 172 innings easily bettered Ponting's 176.
- most centuries in the first innings of a Test match - His 22 takes over from Ponting's 21.
- equal-most first innings centuries after being put in to bat by the opposition. His 7 brings him level with Kallis, who previously held the record alone.
- the most Test centuries (8) by a visiting player in England, since (and apart from) Bradman. Smith has 7 visiting centuries against England - the other one came last month, of course, in the World Test Championship Final against India.
- the most Test centuries (12) against England by any bastman since Bradman.
^ 9 Tests missed.
Meanwhile:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/ ... alia-ashes
Meanwhile:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/ ... alia-ashes
Smith’s hundred felt like a significant moment for various reasons. First, of course, the numbers, and the Smith numbers are always startling. This was his 32nd Test century. Only Ricky Ponting has more for Australia.
Plus, of course, there is the circularity. Smith made his Test debut on this ground in 2010 against Pakistan, batting at No 7, and was described by at least one keen-eyed reporter as the next Shane Warne.
Which wasn’t that far off, because in the event Smith has turned out to be the closest thing to the next Bradman, as much as this might pain those who only see his angular awkwardness, who have been waiting as the years stretch for this to be a blip or an oversight, a man having a very long, apparently endless day out.
....
This was at least classical Smith, all angles and space, the basic maths of ball and grass and obstacles, batting as an algebra problem to be solved. It came with a tinge of sadness too. Lord’s may not get another look at a batsman quite like him. But then, there has, to date, only ever really been one.
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ashe ... al-1385869
Steven Smith is a modern marvel and often referred to as the best since Bradman. Of the 17 players with more than 9000 Test runs, he has the highest average of 59.56. On the eve of his 100th Test match, ESPNcricinfo spoke to four players - Usman Khawaja, Shane Watson, Adam Voges and Peter Siddle - who have batted alongside him at various stages of his career, and occasionally been in the opposition, to find out what makes him so good.
Steve Bradsmith has finished his latest Ashes series with a career record of 2,255 Test runs in England. That's the most by any Australian since the end of the Second World War. He's also the only Australian to have reached 8 Test centuries in England in that time. During that timespan, the only other Australian to reach 2,000 Test runs in England is Border, who reached 2,085.
Of the Australians who have reached 1,000 Test runs in England since that date, only 5 averaged over 50 there - Steve Waugh, Border, Bradsmith, Arthur Morris and Taylor. Mark Waugh averaged 49.54, Boon 48.73, Ian Chappell 46.29, Bill Lawry 45.7, Ponting 41.79, Greg Chappell 40.8 and Clarke 39.86.
Of the Australians who have reached 1,000 Test runs in England since that date, only 5 averaged over 50 there - Steve Waugh, Border, Bradsmith, Arthur Morris and Taylor. Mark Waugh averaged 49.54, Boon 48.73, Ian Chappell 46.29, Bill Lawry 45.7, Ponting 41.79, Greg Chappell 40.8 and Clarke 39.86.