Steve Smith’s incredible last few seasons have him threatening to displace Greg Chappell and Ricky Ponting as the next best Aussie batsman since Don Bradman.
He still has not come up with an equivalent of Ricky Ponting’s 156 at Old Trafford in 2005, but his century against Ravi Ashwin and Ravi Jadeja on a raging turner at Pune must come close.
This is a career involving a run machine with an unorthodox technique that everyone mocked, one shouldered with the captaincy at a young age, and having been burdened with crisis moments such as the Hobart game last year.
The similarities with Graeme Smith are startling and perhaps this is a reminder of the danger that lies ahead for Steve Smith to avoid his career declining like his South African namesake.
It is granted that G.Smith was not as versatile a cricketer as S.Smith in terms of adaptability to other formats and fielding ability, but both Smiths gained the captaincy at a young age and the manner in which they are able to grit out runs when the going is tough, along with cashing in when the conditions are in their favour is remarkable.
The way they are able to get under the oppositions’ skin and intelligently use their fiery respective bowling attacks, has been a trademark of their captaincy. While everyone was surprised at Steve O Keefe’s relative success against India under S.Smith this year, it still beggars my belief how Paul Harris was able to consistently tie down batsmen such as Sahin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.
That wouldn’t have been possible without the astute leadership of G.Smith. A check at their stats each at the same age of 28 of which S.Smith will turn in June reveals some similarity.
We see that G.Smith had a record of 6342 runs at an average of 50.33 while Steve Smith’s is 5251 @ 61.05 with G.Smith’s lower averages a reminder of how opening batsmen have it more difficult against the new ball, especially in South Africa, England and Australia.
S.Smith is arguably just that little class above, with a better all-round record in overseas conditions but he still has not had the chance to lead his country to a fourth innings run-chase as G.Smith did in Birmingham or Perth in 2008.
As seen from these stats for G.Smith between 2011 to 2014, his output and consistency decreased.
So where did it go wrong as he passed his 30s? While his captaincy was still strong thanks to the likes of Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn ,his batting form declined to the level where he will be remembered in a similar manner to Michael Clarke or Kevin Pietersen as a player of great innings rather than a great player.
The first reason is fairly objective, in that he would have been tied down by the complex selection politics that are so unique to South Africa while his heavy frame would have put his body under huge stress, leading to injuries and a premature retirement at the age of 33.
When one looks at this, captaining over 100 Tests is quite an achievement. While Steve Smith’s body has been able to cope with the heavy demands of balancing three forms of the game, the relentless Australian media and unforgiving fans do pose a threat to burnout, even if it is not at the same level as South African politics.
Kane Williamson of New Zealand will simply not have this worry about the media in his country. The second point to explain G.Smith’s decline is slightly more subjective, but perhaps it is that when having such an unusual technique and relying on a good-eye, the minute reflexes slow down as one passes their prime in their early 30s, run scoring becomes much harder.
Players like Kallis, Tendulkar and Steve Waugh were still able to maintain their standards in their mid-to-late 30s because of the strength of their techniques and this is why I believe Williamson and Joe Root will still play well when past their prime.
However, there is the prospect of S Smith’s run-scoring habits declining once his reflexes slow down if the case of G.Smith, Virender Sehwag and Kevin Peterson is to go by. Once past the magical period from 27-32, these players were not able to maintain their performances at international level.
There is the serious possibility that S.Smith may have already passed 10,000 runs before his ‘eye’ goes. His continuous record of proving everyone wrong, could dispel this ‘eye-myth’ that I have brought up as he continues to torment other international teams for a long time.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
I don't think Clarke was too bad during that period. Sure compared to his best it was poor but averaging 37 with 5 Tons isn't exactly being carried when you look at the rest of the team. Then for him to take the captaincy and average 106 the following year really made up for that. His injury prone body really affected his career statistics.
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
Excellent thought piece Sameer. Keep it up. I suspect as a batsman Steve Smith will have put his averages on a pedestal that in his declining years may not be brought down to more mortal levels. But like all batsmen, it's likely his current purple patch will temporarily end soon, but that will only be a respite for him to consolidate before he does more magnificent things for Australia. The hand eye coordination will go someday, for sure, but what he achieves by then could truly be mind boggling.
Ben
Guest
Yes it was unfortunate for Ponting to inherit a team that was at it's absolute peak, himself included, then witness it decline through form and retirements with no one really coming through to replace them. Then there was the period where he was carrying Michael Clarke through absolute terrible form throughout much of 2010-2011. The team certainly was very poor.
Sameer Murthy
Roar Rookie
Hi JGK, as a batsman you could say Ponting is more relevant. However at the age of 28, Ponting was yet to hit his complete dominance (he was at his best from late 2003-2007) while Smith is the No.1 Test cricket batsman in the world right now. As a captain, can't see too many similarities as Ponting inherited a team at the peak of his powers only to oversee their decline while Smith is leading a young and vibrant Australian side in their mid to late 20's.
AdrianK
Guest
Of course! I feel stupid (and contagious)
qwetzen
Guest
Correct. And wasn't this the same innings where India missed running him out *and* didn't refer an lbw which would have had him as well?
DavSA
Guest
Thanks JGK .... Damn now i have to do some homework...... Ha ! Mickey Arthur will love me .....;)
JGK
Roar Guru
Actually, ABdV's average has fallen since he turned 30 as well. Younis Khan's has gone up though.
davSA
Guest
Really good point JGK . I am too lazy to research this but I wonder how many top cricketers post 30 years old averages actually increased. One high profile batsman I can think of is AB De Villiers.
JGK
Roar Guru
I reckon the more relevant comparison to be worried about would be with Ponting who scored 8 centuries while he was 31 years old (at the end of which he average 60) and then from the age of 32 to 38 scored 8 more centuries and averaged under 40.
davSA
Guest
Good Article Sameer . Graeme Smith did have a very simple and one can say limited batting technique, but its that same style that made him so effective as an opening batsman. I will remember him more for his ability to lay a foundation than for his actual stroke making . He seldom gave the bowler a sniff , stepping slightly to off and working the ball very late , usually to leg with a strong bottom hand. . Made him a little susceptible to LBW decisions and I haven't looked at his stats but suspect that was how he mostly got out. Amla plays the same way but his initial movement to off is very pronounced . His stats do show a huge prevalence , especially recently of LBW dismissals. Graeme Smith is always remembered in SA for his captaincy though . When he first took the reigns he was very young and quite brash . Irritated the Aussies to no end , especially Shane Warne with cocky press statements but no doubt regained their respect over the years. So while Steve Smith is by far the more rounded batsmen he has a way to go yet to match GS in leadership. imo .
Ben Brown
Guest
Great article!!! Very interesting read. Agree on most of the points. Recently I've wondered whether or not is is a batsmans eye that goes or simply burn out, in the form of runs and years at the top level. Say after 9-10k runs a batsman is mentally exhausted. Causing a decline. Just a thought
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
Good article, Sameer. Really enjoyed it.
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
Hey Adrian, I think qwetzen meant Smith was dropped 4 times during the innings at Pune.
Simoc
Guest
Excellent article Sameer. You go straight to number one in cricket writing on the Roar.
AdrianK
Guest
Great article. Batsmenship aside, I think Graeme Smith will be judged as a really strong captain. It's impossible to overstate the pressure on a 21 year old captain charged with pulling together a national team devastated by the aftermath and collateral damage of the Hansie Cronje business, while under the blinding glare of fanatical home fans. And while we loved to hate his competitiveness in standing up to us, I reckon he won over a lot of Aussie fans (certainly myself for one) when he batted with a broken hand in the 4th innings against a rampaging Aussie pace attack to try and save a match. And quetzen, at least one of the S Smith droppings was when he was in the team as a leg spin bowler. Be a tough judge to not respect how far he has exceeded expectations since those days. Does make it difficult to judge where he will rank by the time he finishes.
jonty23
Guest
Well done on this excellent article ! Certainly agree on the class difference between G Smith and S Smith , while technically they have "unique" techniques G Smith`s was very limited and restrictive in his scoring options compared to S Smith who has a far more rounded game with multiple scoring options on both sides of the wicket. G Smith was worked out and then worked over by bowlers in the later stages of his career targeting that angled bat and bowling fuller on and outside off stump thus drawing drying up his scoring and drawing more errors , currently bowlers seem at a loss to curtail S Smiths scoring abilities and struggle to build any pressure on him . Time will tell but hard to see SS tapering off as much as GS.
Nudge
Guest
You read an excellent article like that and you make one comment, nit picking. Sad life much? Better you than me
qwetzen
Guest
"He still has not come up with an equivalent of Ricky Ponting’s 156 at Old Trafford in 2005, but his century against Ravi Ashwin and Ravi Jadeja on a raging turner at Pune must come close" I don't recall Ponting being dropped four times.
Peebo
Guest
Smith is trending upwards. I predict him finishing with a 62 to 65 average. Best player since Bradman. Better than Tendulkar and better than Viv. Nothing fazes him.