Fab-4 Legacy: As we venture further into the statistics of the world’s elite Test batters, we witness the dominant “Fab Four” peak has now shifted positions. Heading into 2021, Virat Kohli, Steven Smith, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root were leveled on Test centuries. Forward to now, a more different landscape is the backdrop that allows for the flourishing of Joe Root’s career in cricket.
Here is how the Fab Four stats of Test centuries looked at the start of 2021:
- Virat Kohli: 27 hundreds
- Steven Smith: 26 hundreds
- Kane Williamson: 24 hundreds
- Joe Root: 17 hundreds
This latest look, though, still had Kohli at the forefront, with Smith and Williamson close on his heels, while Root was behind them. There were always hitches to their legacies at the time, Kohli’s prolific scoring and Smith’s batting style, while Root was still trying to make his credentials.
The Shift in Rankings
Currently, rank has taken a drastic turn of its own and it is now Joe Root who takes the top spot when it comes to Test centuries:
- Joe Root: 35 centuries
- Kane Williamson: 32 tons
- Steven Smith: 32 tons
- Virat Kohli: 29 tons
Joe Root garnered 35 Test hundreds, which put him in first place among the Fab Four but also marked him as a mature player. Adaptability and maintenance of consistency under pressure have been the turning point in his rise to fame.
Williamson and Smith remain the nearest challengers at 32 tons each with signs of their sustained dominance. With 29 centuries to his name, Kohli remains a force to reckon with but has appeared to slip ever so slightly compared to his earlier years.
The Root of Success: Post-COVID Era Dominance
England cricket team veteran Joe Root is in the form of his life as he brought up his 35th Test hundred against Pakistan in Multan. The batter, the best among the Fab 4 at present, has already scored 17 Test centuries in the post-COVID era while Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson and Steve Smith are no where near the England star. With this milestone in PAK vs ENG 1st Test, Root has now surpassed Gavaskar, Lara, Jayawardene and Younis Khan on the list of players with most hundreds in Tests.
Joe Root and Virat Kohli have had pretty contrasting paths since the post-COVID era. While the England batter managed to rediscover his form under the new era of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, the Indian batting maestro has struggled to score runs, often facing short stints at the crease. Just for the sake of putting it out there in numbers, Joe Root has scored 17 centuries to date since June 2020. In comparison, Virat Kohli has only managed to score two centuries in the same period.
Overall, Virat Kohli has 29 hundreds to his name as opposed to Root’s 35. The last time the Indian reached the triple-figure mark was in 2023 against the West Indies. The only other century that he scored came against Australia at home. There was nearly a 3-year gap between 2020-23 when Kohli failed to get to the triple-figure mark on even one occasion.
Virat Kohli would have to follow Joe Root’s footsteps to rediscover his form in Tests under the new era of Gautam Gambhir as coach. It is imperative of the Indian batting maestro to break free from the shackles of poor form, given India’s hectic Test schedule ahead and the complicated chance for the side to make it to the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Root on the other hand is already in great form and will hope to continue the same going forward.
Beyond the Numbers: A Shift in the Fab Four Narrative
Fab four test centuries are an enshrined testament to the dynamic nature of the game as the onus shifts from Virat Kohli over to Joe Root. Along with each player continuing to score for his team, competition in decades will remain razor-sharp promising exciting cricket for people the world over. With Root as the leader, the history of the Fab Four isn’t over yet and is going to be interesting how the records are going to change in the future.
It was a former New Zealand captain – Martin Crowe – who coined the concept of ‘Fab Four’ to describe the four best batters of the current generation – Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith and Joe Root. All four of them are still undoubtedly the four best batters in all three formats of the game, although former India captain Kohli has now announced his T20I retirement after winning the T20 World Cup 2024.
When it comes to Test cricket, Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar remains at the pinnacle of the sport with 15,921 runs and 51 Test centuries. Out of the ‘Fab Four’, former England skipper Joe Root has surged ahead when it comes to the longest format of the game and now has 12,402 runs with 34 centuries with Steve Smith of Australia in second spot with 9,685 runs and 32 tons. Williamson is just 10 runs ahead of Kohli, although the Indian batter is yet to bat in the ongoing Kanpur Test vs Bangladesh (8,881 vs 8,871).
Kohli vs Root: A Statistical Comparison
Virat Kohli and Joe Root are arguably two of the best batters of this generation to play the sport, especially Test cricket. Both batters have grown in stature over the years and are entering the fag end of their respective careers. Kohli and Root have always believed that Test cricket is the pinnacle of the game featuring in more than 100 matches in the format so far. While the former India skipper has played 115 matches in the whites, Root has represented England in a staggering 146 Test matches so far.
But who is the best among them? Well, here we compare both batters in Tests based on their numbers after playing in 115 Test matches
Kohli was recently involved in the two-match Test series against Bangladesh at home and mustered 99 runs in four innings at an average of 33. With this performance, he took his tally in Test cricket after 115 Test matches to 8947 runs at an average of 48.89. Meanwhile, Root played three Tests against Sri Lanka at home amassing 375 runs with two centuries to his name. However, after 115 Tests, Root was only 278 runs away from completing 10000 runs in the format. He had scored 9722 runs by then at an average of 49.35.
Kohli's conversion rate in the longest format has been brilliant as he has so far smacked 29 centuries and 30 fifties. At the same time, after 115 Tests, Root had 24 tons and 53 half-centuries to his name. This was the period when he used to struggle to convert his fifties into hundreds. Interestingly, at this stage, Root and Kohli's best score is the same - 254.
The Future of the Fab Four
Virat Kohli's consistency in Test cricket has been affected in the last few years. In fact, he has scored only two centuries since November 2019 and during his period, notched up only 8 fifty-plus scores too. He struggled for form in the format and that led to his progress getting affected as well. Meanwhile, Root's form has skyrocketed since 2021 and he has plundered a lot of runs crossing the 12000-run mark in the format.
Root will next be in action from October 7 in the three-match Test against Pakistan away from home while Virat Kohli will face New Zealand at home in three Tests starting from October 16. All eyes will be on these two legends as they look to pile on the runs like they have been doing for more than a decade. As far as the numbers are concerned after 115 Tests, Joe Root has the upper hand over Kohli but the latter still has a chance to finish his already illustrious Test career on a high by piling on the runs in the next few years just like Sachin Tendulkar did.
The Legacy of Joe Root: A Testament to Resilience
Joe Root’s rise to the top of the Fab Four is a testament to his unwavering dedication to the game. He has overcome challenges, adapted to new eras, and ultimately emerged as a force to be reckoned with. His consistent performance, combined with his ability to evolve with the game, sets him apart as a truly remarkable cricketer. As he continues to rack up centuries and break records, the world of cricket is sure to be captivated by his journey for years to come.
