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[petehosk]

Root maybe the official number 1 at the moment....but to be to honest, there is so little between the top 10 in real terms that it could change several times in the next 18 months, depending on who plays where!
Just nice to have a genuine top class batsman at the moment!

[Seniorplayer]

Your right Peter but Our Joe will just get better and better ....

[Number4]

Well Joe didn't stay at No1 for long.... Smith quickly took the No 1 spot back!!!!!!

[ijmorgan]

Did it with over 900 points the alleged holy grail of ICC ranking totals. Amazing that only 30 batsman have ever achieved that total or more.

[lazza32]

Seniorplayer............roooooooot

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[ppccopener]

Root will indeed better, old pro Seniorplayer is spot on
Smith....at the risk of the forum boards turning blue with insults from the Auusie/Gerry is a flash in the pan and will be found out.

tin hats on and go for it i'm hard enough to take it

 
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT

[RoyalParkReds]

Both are and will be very good players. Basically identical in stats so far... both average 56 with just over 30 tests each played so far. Both are never going to  be great bowlers but are used as that 'buy me a wicket' type bowler from their respective captains. As with anyone, they each have weaknesses and strengths. Root probably has a sounder technique and can play the moving ball better but little suspect against real fast and aggressive bowling. Smith very unorthodox in technique which may have resulted his troubles on the real green tops this series.

P.S I'm still waiting for Smith to get out LBW to a full straight ball..... maybe that will happen later on his career when his footwork and eyes get that marginally slower.

[ppccopener]

good point reds, i'm averaging single figures for 2015 so no expert here...but if you look at Smith technique it's all over the shop.
You can bat like that when your eyes are razor sharp but at some point you need a technique. This has been shown up against the movement-quite right.
KP was similar, unbelievable abilty to hit the ball but unorthodox

Time will tell of course whether Smith is just in a purple patch.There's been plenty of players have a hot streak and fade out.

Root should be up the order to be considered a great player.He's not now of course...but has the potential to be.
Look back thru history, most top players bat in the first 4.

Ponting is right when he says your best player bats 3-so Root should bat there.
And no doubts Ponting was a great player

[Buzz]

KP's basic technique is excellent. Smith's isn't that bad. Or has everyone forgotten he was the leading run scorer in the recent ashes series?
In the meantime:

https://youtu.be/zoXH0tuQE5M

[northernboy1987]

Surely technique isn't the be all and end all? Chanderpaul (for example) had a VERY unorthodox technique and has over 20000 international runs at a career average of around 45 (stats across all international formats).

I'm not saying technique isn't important, it certainly is to most players, but surely it is not necessary to have great technique to be considered a great player.

[ppccopener]

KP's basic technique is excellent. Smith's isn't that bad. Or has everyone forgotten he was the leading run scorer in the recent ashes series?
In the meantime:

https://youtu.be/zoXH0tuQE5M

haha great stuff!!!  you gotta have a laugh

[Buzz]

Surely technique isn't the be all and end all? Chanderpaul (for example) had a VERY unorthodox technique and has over 20000 international runs at a career average of around 45 (stats across all international formats).

Not true - Chanderpaul's trigger movement put him in a lovely side on technically correct position, it was only how he waited for the bowlers to release the ball that he looked horrible.

I believe that we are seeing a significant fall off of basic technique however at the moment which is hampering players. I am also frustrated that the likes of Gary Ballance wont try to change to improve.

[ppccopener]

Surely technique isn't the be all and end all? Chanderpaul (for example) had a VERY unorthodox technique and has over 20000 international runs at a career average of around 45 (stats across all international formats).

I'm not saying technique isn't important, it certainly is to most players, but surely it is not necessary to have great technique to be considered a great player.

good point. It may be a coincidence that Shiv was one of the best 'leavers' of a ball ever, so he had unbelievable patience, and made the bowlers bowl to him.

i'm sure some on here will point out other high scoring test players with unusual techniques, I can't think of that many myself

but i'm not arguing with Buzz for all the tea in China!!

[smilley792]

Graeme smith!!!

[ppccopener]

Not true - Chanderpaul's trigger movement put him in a lovely side on technically correct position, it was only how he waited for the bowlers to release the ball that he looked horrible.

I believe that we are seeing a significant fall off of basic technique however at the moment which is hampering players. I am also frustrated that the likes of Gary Ballance wont try to change to improve.

yes surprising to read Ballance is def not trying to improve his method and will get back in(according to him) just on weight of runs....