All four are different from each other when it comes to technique. Steve Smith has a proper batting technique and has got the game to counter any bowling attack. Virat Kohli initially struggled in the swinging conditions but has adjusted brilliantly in the recent England series. Kane Williamson and Joe Root are technically sound.
These four young guns are currently their country’s main batsmen and have tasted captaincy for their respective countries. These young men will become more and more responsible as well as better players with every passing day. One can hardly find any flaws in them and hence, it is really difficult for everyone to rank these players.
The fab four ruled this decade and have scored tons of runs wherever they have travelled. However, the game of sport never stops without comparison. Hence, let us have some analysis on who fared better in the last ten years of International Cricket.
#Steve Smith
Starting off with none other than the former captain of the Australian team - Steve Smith. With an exceptional test average of 61.38 and a one day average of 41.84, his record speaks a lot about the man’s hunger to score runs every time he steps onto the field to bat.
He was a key factor for Australians while securing the World Cup in 2015 for a record of 5th time. At an age 28 years, this man from Sydney is already making massive strides in becoming one of the Aussie greats. However, Smith’s major drawback has been his lack of run scoring ability in the T20 format and that might also be a reason why Australia are yet to win a T20 World Cup title.
The next T20 Cricket World Cup to be held at home in 2020, where Smith will seek to lead Australia from the front to secure their first Cup victory in that format of the game. The only drawback in Smith’s career is the ball-tampering saga. Australian cricket has banned him for one year. He is expected to make a comeback during 2019 World Cup. If this is kept aside, he is one of the best players for Australia. Let’s hope to see revitalized Steve Smith during the World Cup. He has scored 10,061 in this decade.
Virat Kohli
Next, we move onto the captain of the Indian team - Virat Kohli. The past couple of years has seen the rise of Virat Kohli who has been consistently scoring runs effortlessly for India across all three formats.
After a torrid time in England, where he averaged just 13.5 in 10 outings, Kohli has been a different player ever since. He played a pivotal role in guiding his country to the final of the Champions Trophy which ironically was held in England. However, prior to revisiting England, Kohli scored four double centuries in four successive Test series (World Record) which helped his Test average sail past 50.
He recently played an instrumental part in the team. His record for India in the limited overs format has been remarkable, averaging a whopping 59.74 in ODI cricket and a staggering 50.29 in T20s. With such impressive figures in all three formats, it would seem impossible to find any flaws in Kohli’s batting.
He has one major drawback that is his inability to play on surfaces where the ball seams a lot, for example in England. But in his last tour he ticked that box as well. He is currently averaging 50+ in all three formats which is not an easy feat. He is the only player in the world with such a record which shows how accomplished batsman he is. He is the only cricketer to score over 19,000 international runs in this decade including 64 centuries. The next best is Hashim Amla who has scored over 14,000 runs.
# Kane Williamson
The third player we are going to look at also happens to be a captain – Kane Williamson, the New Zealand skipper. Like Kohli, Williamson is the first player out of these 4 men to captain their respective countries in all three formats.
With the added responsibility of being a captain, Williamson has managed to score runs for New Zealand in both Test and One Day cricket. Even though he has a T20 average of just 31.35, his Test average of 53.20 and ODI average of 45.91 shows why he is the main man for New Zealand in the upcoming World Cup in 2019.
Williamson’s drawback has been his inability to convert his 50’s into 100’s. He has 75 above 50 scores across all formats but only 31 hundred’s. Off late, he has been in good form and his brilliant captaincy helped New Zealand to win against Pakistan in a recent Test series in UAE. All eyes will be on the Kiwi skipper as he will hope to continue the good work and help his country to its first ever World Cup success.
Joe Root
Last but not the least we move onto Joe Root, the only player on this list who has captained his country in only one format. Root has been in phenomenal form for England across all three formats. When he made his debut for the national team, he has never looked back.
He has performed extremely well, series after series, almost as if he knows when to accelerate and when to play defensively. Root has got a wide range of shots and his ability to play on all sides of the wicket is a massive asset to the team. His test average of 49.52 along with his ODI average of 50.90 and T20 average of 34.22 speaks highly of his consistency in all three formats.
Root’s only drawback though, much like Williamson has been his inability to convert his 50’s into 100’s. Across all formats, he has amassed 74 fifties but only 30 hundred’s. Root is one for the future and England will hope that the English Test skipper will continue his rich vein of form in next year’s Cricket World Cup and help his country win its first-ever title.
Taking everything into consideration, Virat Kohli is clearly cut above, without a doubt the best batsman in the world right now with an average of 50+ across all formats. Kane Williamson will be the second best as he has played a vital role in the recent victories for his country. Steve Smith who has been phenomenal in Test cricket is doing relatively well in ODI cricket too. If you keep the controversies aside hee comes at number three. Joe Root has been inconsistent in recent days and has also lost the recently concluded Test series against Windies comes at number four.
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