Virat Kohli, Joe Root thrown aside!! Steve Smith picks the Greatest Batsman

Australian cricketer Steve Smith has settled one of cricket’s most debated questions by picking Sachin Tendulkar as the greatest batter of all time. In a rapid-fire interview with BBC Sport Wales, Smith overlooked other cricketers, including Virat Kohli, and picked Tendulkar for his remarkable impact on the game.

Smith is currently playing for Welsh Fire in The Hundred 2025. He has struggled in his first three matches, scoring just 58 runs. Smith is active only in Tests in international cricket. The right-handed batter had retired from ODIs earlier this year after Australia’s exit from the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

Steve Smith Names Sachin Tendulkar as Greatest Batter of All Time

During the rapid-fire session with BBC Sport Wales, Steve Smith was asked to name the greatest batter of all time. Smith picked Jacques Kallis as the greatest cricketer of all time and Sachin Tendulkar as the greatest batter.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

“I’d go with Jacques Kallis. I think, sorry, the greatest cricketer of all time is Jacques Kallis. Greatest batter of all time is probably Sachin Tendulkar," Smith stated.

India or England 👀 Steve Smith answers some rapid fire questions‼️

Catch the Hundred every Tuesday and Saturday on BBC Two 📺 🏏

All commentary on BBC Sounds 🎧#BBCCricket pic.twitter.com/Yzs1AF5MAA

— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) August 13, 2025

Sachin Tendulkar played 664 matches for India in his 24-year international career. He is the highest run-scorer in international cricket with 34,357 runs and also took 201 wickets. Tendulkar holds records for the most matches played and most runs scored in both Tests and ODIs.

Jacques Kallis represented South Africa in 519 matches over 19 years, scoring 25,534 runs and claiming 577 wickets. The all-rounder achieved more than 10,000 runs and over 250 wickets in both Test and ODI formats.

Steve Smith Names India’s Bowling Coach Morne Morkel as Toughest Opponent

Steve Smith, who has played international cricket at the highest level since February 2010, has faced many of the world’s top bowlers over the past 15 years, including Dale Steyn, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Adil Rashid, and Trent Boult.

However, the 36-year-old batter named India’s current bowling coach, Morne Morkel, as the toughest bowler he has ever faced. Smith stated that his pace and bounce made him difficult to face.

“Morne Morkel. Tall, fast, and just the bounce he got was not nice," Smith said during the rapid-fire round.

An Ashes, Nothing Beats It - Steve Smith on His Biggest Cricketing Rival

Steve Smith, who has amassed more than 10,000 Test runs for Australia and 48 centuries across all formats since his debut in 2010, was asked about his biggest cricketing rival. Smith picked England and added that nothing beats the Ashes.

“England. I mean, they’re both huge rivals, but an Ashes, nothing beats it!"

The Australian batter also shared that his favorite century was the 144-run innings he played in the first innings of the 2019 Ashes Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham.

“Favorite hundred would be the first innings at Edgbaston in 2019.

Smith is set to feature in the 2025-26 Ashes series for Australia. He last appeared in a T20I against New Zealand in February 2024 and retired from One-Day Internationals.

Also read: BCCI ends suspense on India's captain for Asia Cup 2025