Which Steve was the more tough batsman? Waugh or Smith?

[AKane]

Now Smith at 56 odd average is 5 more than Waugh at 51 odd in test cricket and Smith averages a good 10 more than Waugh in ODIs.

 

However I feel that Waugh was the more nasty customer and simply tougher.

 

Waugh had to handle Ambrose/Walsh and Donald/Pollock and the Pak pacers.  Waugh was instrumental in ripping the top spot away from the Windies to begin their long road from glory to obscurity.

 

Then things like the quip to Gibbs regarding dropping the cup - maybe he did not say it but I think he said something.....

 

Smith is the better batsman but Waugh was just a nasty opponent. Aus was always tough but Steve Waugh made them tougher.

[nevada]

Waugh had help from other world class batsmen in the side while Smith carried a weak batting line-up on his back for years, scoring tough runs time and again. 

Waugh faced very tough opposition in the form of the then mighty West Indies who were unbeaten in a test series for decades, plus a strong South African team.  Smith didn't have such fearsome opposition. I rate both as equals, as they are safe choices for "a batsman you can pick to bat for your life".  

[Gollum]

Smith, no comparison. Even Aussie fans rate him best after Bradman.

[Serpico]

I mean Waugh played at 5 & 6 for the most of his career while Smith played at 3 & 4 

[Zero_Unit]

It's mind boggling how this guy came into australia as *Warne's* replacement (i guess) but ended up being one of the greatest batsmen to play the game. This was a new for me. I would go with smith. If only he had continued with the ball aswell, would have ended his career as a legendary all rounder. 

[Lord]

Waugh is very underrated

 

but still Smith takes this one

[Gollum]

2017 BGT, 499 runs, avg 70+....2nd highest Aussie scorer 230, rest all under 200

 

2019 Ashes, 774 runs in 6 innings, after one year hiatus....set to score 1000+ but for concussion

 

Batting peaked there. 

[putrevus]

Smith is the best test batsman after Bradman and Sobers. Sobers was very much Smith , started as bowler but became world class batsman.

 

Smith has uncanny ability to stay at crease on any type of wicket.I have not seen that ability in many batsmen.

 

Steve Waugh is not even among top five Aussie batsmen.

Edited March 6, 2025 by putrevus

[Ultimate_Game]

Steve Smith. Steve Waugh usually beat up on a very poor Eng side of 90s and had world beaters in the side. Smith OTOH was the best batter in the side and was the difference between win and a loss. Plus Steve Smith was a much better ODI and white-ball batter.

[gattaca]

How many swinging and seaming wickets did Steve smith bat on ? The only time he had to face swing in England he failed. Later they had more batsman friendly wickets. Yes he scored runs but he had easier wickets. Steve Waugh took many bloody blows and still continued on and score runs against tough conditions.

[Gollum]

Just now, gattaca said:

How many swinging and seaming wickets did Steve smith bat on ? The only time he had to face swing in England he failed. Later they had more batsman friendly wickets. Yes he scored runs but he had easier wickets. Steve Waugh took many bloody blows and still continued on and score runs against tough conditions.

Post 2017-18 batting conditions have been the toughest ever in the history of cricket. That's why most batsmen are struggling to average 40. 

 

Anyway Smith did fine in 2015 Ashes as well (500+ runs, top scorer from both sides). In 2013 Ashes he got a 100 when everyone thought he was just a spinner. 

[diga]

10 hours ago, AKane said:

Now Smith at 56 odd average is 5 more than Waugh at 51 odd in test cricket and Smith averages a good 10 more than Waugh in ODIs.

 

However I feel that Waugh was the more nasty customer and simply tougher.

 

Waugh had to handle Ambrose/Walsh and Donald/Pollock and the Pak pacers.  Waugh was instrumental in ripping the top spot away from the Windies to begin their long road from glory to obscurity.

 

Then things like the quip to Gibbs regarding dropping the cup - maybe he did not say it but I think he said something.....

 

Smith is the better batsman but Waugh was just a nasty opponent. Aus was always tough but Steve Waugh made them tougher.

Waugh was never about batting talent... Its his mental fortitude that set him apart. He maximised his talent and ended up having more runs than his twin brother. Having seen Waugh through late 90s and till his retirement, can easily say that Steve Smith is hands down more naturally talented one batting wise. 

 

Waugh was all about determination ... watch that 1999 series against West Indies or the 1997 one against peak South Africa for that 

[AKane]

54 minutes ago, Ultimate_Game said:

Steve Waugh usually beat up on a very poor Eng side of 90s and had world beaters in the side.

Steve Waugh played 32 matches vs the WI scoring 2192 runs at average of 49.81 with 7 hundreds. He played from 1988 against Marshall and co.... thru Ambrose/Walsh/Bishop. The last 8 tests had Ambrose retired, Walsh diminished and then retired and lesser bowlers.

 

But he did okay against Marshall/Patterson/Ambrose/Walsh/Bishop.   

[AKane]

24 minutes ago, diga said:

Waugh was all about determination ... watch that 1999 series against West Indies or the 1997 one against peak South Africa for that 

Waugh was very good in that 1999 series vs the Windies. He had a 100 and also a 199. He was overshadowed by the heroics of Brian Lara in 1999. Same test Waugh scored 199, Lara scored that 153 n.o. out of 311/9 to win test by 1 wicket.

[diga]

8 minutes ago, AKane said:

Waugh was very good in that 1999 series vs the Windies. He had a 100 and also a 199. He was overshadowed by the heroics of Brian Lara in 1999. Same test Waugh scored 199, Lara scored that 153 n.o. out of 311/9 to win test by 1 wicket.

Not only that he took a hard call on Warne as captain on the last test of the series and came back from 2-1 behind to equalize the series

[AuxiliA]

47 minutes ago, Gollum said:

Post 2017-18 batting conditions have been the toughest ever in the history of cricket. That's why most batsmen are struggling to average 40. 

 

Anyway Smith did fine in 2015 Ashes as well (500+ runs, top scorer from both sides). In 2013 Ashes he got a 100 when everyone thought he was just a spinner. 

 

 

Yes. But to balance that out Aussie pitches from the beginning of Smith's career till 2017 were extremely flat. He made tonnes of runs on those roadways early on. 

 

Still Smith is among the top 5 test batters of all time due to his incredible overseas performances. Although whether or not he's no2 after Bradman is highly debatable. 

 

[Ultimate_Game]

17 minutes ago, AKane said:

Steve Waugh played 32 matches vs the WI scoring 2192 runs at average of 49.81 with 7 hundreds. He played from 1988 against Marshall and co.... thru Ambrose/Walsh/Bishop. The last 8 tests had Ambrose retired, Walsh diminished and then retired and lesser bowlers.

 

But he did okay against Marshall/Patterson/Ambrose/Walsh/Bishop.   

 

No denying Waugh did well against WI but he had an all-star team with Warne, McGrath, Taylor, Ponting etc. in the side. He was never the person whom the team depended on. In Steve Smith's case  he was heads & shoulders above the other batters and was often the difference between the teams. How many times have we and other teams been thwarted by Smith? He was the main obstacle time and again when Aussie batting stocks were pretty low.

[AKane]

1 hour ago, Gollum said:

Post 2017-18 batting conditions have been the toughest ever in the history of cricket.

Post 2017-18 bowlers barring Bumrah have been the weakest in non-Aus countries.

 

Steyn was a much declined bowler after 2017-18. Anderson/Broad after that were in mid 30s. The Windies/Pak/SL are finished as a team. NZ is NZ. 

 

So Bumrah and Rabada. And Rabada with no Steyn is not as effective. Rabada is not a spearhead, more like the second to spearhead.

 

The bowlers in 90s with Wasim/Waqar and then Shoaib and  Ambrose/Walsh/Bishop and Donald/Pollock were a handful.

 

This is 20/20 era. Pure pace with quality has declined recently - the bowlers to rival the pace of previous years have reduced. Wagner's short pitched bowling created problems in 2019 or 2020. Bouncers by Wagner? Please......

 

 

Edited March 6, 2025 by AKane

[Stan AF]

Steve waugh is the original gangster.

[diga]

24 minutes ago, Stan AF said:

Steve waugh is the original gangster.

Wasnt he called John Wayne for eyeballing Ambrose ?