453 Runs
That is how many Graeme Smith requires this year to over haul Mohammad Yousuf's 1,788 in 2006.
Smith just mauled the Bangaldeshi boys for 157 in the just concluded test.
He has another test against them starting in 3 days.
Following that, Smith plays another 2 test matches against the Aussies before the year comes to a close.
A maximum of 6 innings and a probable of 5 to score 452 - can he do it?
Considering his form against Bangladesh this year he can probably get half of those in his next innings.
Besides the Bangladeshis, Smith has scored his 1,336 runs this year against West Indies, India, and England. Its taken him 12 test matches and 20 innings to get there.
Yousuf got his 1,788 against India, Sri Lanka, England, and the West Indies in 11 tests and 19 innings.
Viv Richards, who held the record for 3 years before Yousuf got past it, got his 1,710 against India, England, and Australia in 11 tests and 19 tests.
So atleast we have established that Smith is no where near the class of Richards or Yousuf.
But we have also established that if you want a crack at the record, make sure you get to play tests against India and England during the same year!
Smith just mauled the Bangaldeshi boys for 157 in the just concluded test.
He has another test against them starting in 3 days.
Following that, Smith plays another 2 test matches against the Aussies before the year comes to a close.
A maximum of 6 innings and a probable of 5 to score 452 - can he do it?
Considering his form against Bangladesh this year he can probably get half of those in his next innings.
Besides the Bangladeshis, Smith has scored his 1,336 runs this year against West Indies, India, and England. Its taken him 12 test matches and 20 innings to get there.
Yousuf got his 1,788 against India, Sri Lanka, England, and the West Indies in 11 tests and 19 innings.
Viv Richards, who held the record for 3 years before Yousuf got past it, got his 1,710 against India, England, and Australia in 11 tests and 19 tests.
So atleast we have established that Smith is no where near the class of Richards or Yousuf.
But we have also established that if you want a crack at the record, make sure you get to play tests against India and England during the same year!
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Q... apart from the subcon teams... did yousuf play away in those series you mentioned.
Yousuf played against England in England, against SL in SL, and against Ind and WI at home.
Richards in 1976:
vs Eng in Eng
vs Ind in WI
vs Aus in Aus
Smith in 2008:
vs WI in SA
vs Bang in Bang
vs Ind in Ind
vs Eng in Eng
vs Bang in SA
Scorps, I know your views on Yousuf the person as far as his "greed" and "commitment" are concerned but u can't doubt Yousuf the batsman :-)
Absolutely no doubts as a player... he was brilliant... though I have some minor complaints in some of his recent knocks in the ODI format.
I needed this info to sink into what he achieved last year. And if Smith does break it, who fared better... that's why home and away q :)
He has a fair chance.
i'm interested in smithspeak downudner
That would b interesting NC.