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.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Greg Chappell is one of only three batsmen who averaged 50 or more during the 1970s. The others were Viv Richards and Sunil Gavaskar.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
If it's an Ashes XI then only their Ashes records should be considered.
seyon
Guest
I love Steven Smith way better than Allan Border.He is a good batsmen but not better than Steve Smith
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
And surely that’s the point. It wasn’t like everybody averaged >60. Bradman was as far ahead of his contemporaries as he is those who preceded and followed him
Lav
Guest
I think the circumstances which were in edgbaston last year and in Brisbane last home ashes were completely toughest I saw ashes and Australia could resurged Only because of Smith We must be lucky this generation god of cricket we watched in our eyes
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Actually the average runs per wicket in Australia and England weren’t that different pre WWII. The highest scoring decades pre-2000 were the 1920s and the 1960s in Australia. The lowest were the 30s and 50s. In England, the 30s were the equal highest scoring decade of all, along with the 2000’s. The 1920s and 1990s were next best. So while uncovered pitches may have affected some games, the evidence suggests that overall pitch quality wasn’t significantly worse in Bradman’s era. The fact that the 70s and 80s were modest decades for scoring in both decades makes me wonder whether the strength of fast bowling in that era may have been a factor.
matth
Roar Guru
That’s where it gets tough. S Waugh, Chappell, Ponting. And we haven’t even touch on the Englishmen. Barrington, Hammond, Pieterson.
Paul
Roar Guru
even still Matt, I think Border would come out on top. He certainly faced some good quicks, Willis, Botham, etc but even better spinners than the Poms have today. Certainly the pitches made more of contest in Borders era than some of the roads Smith has enjoyed. Remember the dodgy surfaces at the MCG in the 1980's?
justin
Roar Rookie
good call...and those tests against the west windies were constant.
Simon
Guest
Allan Border was truly remarkable. A brilliant batsmen in England, one of our greatest leaders and has a legacy that will never be forgotten. Steve Smith is the best since Bradman
Micko
Roar Rookie
As someone else pointed out Dave, it was silly having someone up against Bradman in a vote off. Bradman should've been an automatic selection, with the players below him (2-5) contesting against each other. As others pointed out, Wally Hammond should be close to being in this side without having to contest an unwinnable vote off against Bradman! :crying:
Micko
Roar Rookie
Fair point Jeff, and that's my angle too: with Smith's career still in progress we can't yet assess him on the basis he could decline (a la Warner) and then you're left with a huge contrast between good and bad (a la Warner again) and a hypothetically largely reduced average. Border being tough, reliable, and consistent should get the nod. I'm certainly not willing to vote Smith ahead of Border with a fair few Ashes series presumably left for Smith.
Jordan B
Roar Rookie
Nice. I'm with you. The only person AB should lose out to is Bradman. Mind you, the only people Smith should lose out to are Bradman and Border.
Jordan B
Roar Rookie
This is hard (unlike the last one). I had both in my team overall, but I'd pick Border. He offers a few more intangibles - better bowling, left-handedness and better captaincy. Smith stiff.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I think that's right. But it would/will also be interesting to see, that if Smith were not to retire right now - and clearly he won't - that if his last two or 3 series across 5 years petered out in terms of performance, how would his place be assessed? I guess this is one of the issues of pitting the completed careers of some players, against the ongoing careers of players either in their ascendancy or at their peak.
matth
Roar Guru
It’s tough. Smith could retire now and he’s still had two of the greatest individual Ashes series of all time.
matth
Roar Guru
Remember also this is an Ashes XI so shouldn’t you only be comparing their performances against English bowlers?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
AB is up against himself?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I agree with your sentiment Paul. Though noting this is purely about the Ashes. But I’d still go Border, but I’m probably being influenced by his leadership – specifically ’89, but also ’85 – which probably isn’t a qualifying criteria. Captaincy aside, his ’81 performance of making a century with a fractured finger, his 82-83 MCG tenacity, as well as his 85 heroics with the bat, have him above Smith for me, even taking into account Smith’s stellar 2019 series. But then Smith’s Ashes career is still a WIP.
1DER
Guest
Border for me. His record in England is one of the very best with a high percentage of undefeated innings. 3 tours to UK where he improved on each occasion averaging 59.22, 66.3 and 73.66 plus the centenary test at Lords with no average from 2 not out innings. Overall record in England 1649 runs @ 68.70 just slightly ahead of Smith's current record of 1627 runs @ 65.08.