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As we continue our journey to create the greatest Ashes XI of all time, today we have one of the best batsmen since Bradman – many would say the best – against the man who played a considerable role in Australia’s cricketing resurgence.
Steve Smith comes into this stage of voting as the second most popular middle-order batsman. Of those, only Bradman picked up more than Smith’s 64 per cent of the vote. They were the only two to be picked in more than 50 per cent of teams, too.
Up against Smith is Captain Grumpy himself, Allan Border. The former skipper comes in as the fifth middle-order seed, having been selected by 27 per cent of fans.
Recency bias is a term often thrown around when trying to rate players from different eras, but it hardly applies to Smith. His Ashes record is as good as it gets, with 2800 runs at an average of 65.11 against England. He’s made a double century in series both home and away, has reached 50 nine times and triple figures on 11 occasions against the Old Enemy.
Border’s no slouch, mind you. He made more Ashes runs than anyone bar Jack Hobbs and Don Bradman (3548), and he scored them at an excellent average of 56.31. His conversion rate against England pales in comparison to Smith’s, though. He has 21 half-centuries against England to his name, but only – and it’s a relative term here – eight tons.
So, who gets the nod: Smith or Border? Cast your vote, then let us know who you picked in the comments below.
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