Joe Root is breaking records, consistently scoring at least one century in every series. There was a time when all the big batsmen were in contention, but since March 2020, Root has taken his game to a new level. At that time, he had only made 17 centuries, but between 2020 and 2024, he has added another 17, bringing his total to 34 centuries. This remarkable performance has set him apart from his contemporaries.
When we talk about Indian players or subcontinental players, we often mention their performances in SENA countries—South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia. However, when it comes to Australian or New Zealand cricketers, the statistics from India become crucial. In this context, analyzing the numbers of Joe Root and Virat Kohli is essential. Root has delivered outstanding performances in recent years, solidifying his position as a key player for England. His technique and dedication to the game have made him a reliable player during challenging times for his team.
Joe Root has played the most Test matches so far, and there is no doubt that England has played the highest number of Test matches overall. While Kohli has also made his mark across all formats, he has played 113 Test matches compared to Root’s 145. These figures highlight Root’s consistency and excellence in the format. His growing number of centuries and commitment to the game make him one of the most prominent players in Test cricket today.
Performance in Different Conditions
Comparing the Test Careers at Home
| Player | Span | Matches (M) | Innings (INN) | Runs (RUNS) | Highest Score (HS) | Average (AVE) | Strike Rate (S/R) | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root | 2013-2024 | 77 | 135 | 6733 | 254 | 55.64 | 59.85 | 21 | 32 |
| Kohli | 2011-2023 | 50 | 77 | 4144 | 254* | 60.05 | 59 | 14 | 12 |
| Kane | 2011-2024 | 49 | 81 | 4747 | 251 | 66.85 | 54.53 | 19 | 19 |
| Smith | 2010-2024 | 53 | 91 | 4701 | 239 | 62.68 | 54.46 | 16 | 19 |
Joe Root, Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, and Steve Smith are four of the best Test cricketers of recent times, and they all started their careers around the same time. Virat Kohli began in 2011, and Joe Root followed in 2012. So far, Root has scored 34 centuries and 64 half-centuries, making a century about once every three to four matches, which is really impressive.
Steve Smith started his Test career in 2010 and has scored 32 centuries in 109 matches. Kane Williamson, who also started in 2010, has scored 34 centuries. Joe Root has the most centuries among them, with 34, but Kane is known for having a slightly better strike rate, meaning he scores his runs a bit quicker.
When looking at their averages, Kane Williamson leads with 54, followed by Steve Smith with an average close to 57. Kohli’s average has dipped below 50 recently, while Root’s average is around 50.
At home, Kohli averages 60 and has scored 14 centuries, even though Indian pitches have been more challenging recently. Root averages 55 at home. Williamson has a great home average of 66, which is impressive given New Zealand’s tough batting conditions. Smith’s home average is 62. All of them have strong records at home, but Williamson’s 19 centuries in just 49 home matches stand out.
Root has played the most matches at home in England and has scored 21 centuries there, putting him on top for home performance. However, in terms of scoring rate, Kane Williamson has a slight edge.
Overall, while all four players are outstanding and have excelled in their careers, there are differences in how they’ve performed depending on where they play and how they score their runs. Each player has made a mark in their own way, making it interesting to compare them.
Test Careers in India
| Player | Span | Matches (M) | Innings (INN) | Runs | High Score (HS) | Average (AVE) | Strike Rate (S/R) | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root | 2012-2024 | 15 | 30 | 1272 | 218 | 45.42 | 50.65 | 3 | 6 |
| Kohli | 2011-2023 | 50 | 77 | 4144 | 254* | 60.05 | 59.00 | 14 | 12 |
| Kane | 2011-2021 | 8 | 15 | 503 | 131 | 33.53 | 40.20 | 1 | 3 |
| Smith | 2010-2023 | 10 | 19 | 805 | 178* | 50.31 | 44.06 | 3 | 1 |
Joe Root and Kane Williamson’s performances in India highlight how challenging it is for overseas players to succeed in these conditions. Joe Root has done quite well in India, playing 15 matches with an average of 45. He debuted in India and has scored three centuries and six half-centuries, which is a solid record considering the difficulty of playing in Indian conditions. Root has even scored a double century, with his best of 218 coming in Chennai.
Virat Kohli, playing at home, has been exceptional, averaging 60 with 14 centuries in India, even though his recent numbers might not be as strong as before. Steve Smith has played 10 matches in India, averaging 50 with three centuries, making him and Root almost neck and neck in terms of performance. Root, however, has more half-centuries (six) but has also played five more matches than Smith.
Kane Williamson, on the other hand, has struggled a bit more in India compared to his performances elsewhere. While his strike rate and averages at home are impressive, he hasn’t been able to replicate that success in India.
As for Kohli, there’s no point in comparing him here because India is his home ground, and he has been consistently dominant with a 60 average. Although Kohli’s form might have dipped slightly recently, his record at home remains formidable.
Test Careers in Australia
| Player | Span | Matches (M) | Innings (INN) | Runs | High Score (HS) | Average (AVE) | Strike Rate (S/R) | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root | 2013-2022 | 14 | 27 | 892 | 89 | 35.68 | 44.26 | 0 | 9 |
| Kohli | 2011-2020 | 13 | 25 | 1352 | 169 | 54.08 | 53.14 | 6 | 4 |
| Kane | 2011-2019 | 7 | 14 | 557 | 166 | 42.84 | 64.24 | 2 | 1 |
| Smith | 2010-2024 | 53 | 91 | 4701 | 239 | 62.68 | 54.46 | 16 | 19 |
Australia has once again proved to be a challenging fortress for those cricketers. Joe Root’s performance here has not been that good. He has played 14 matches in Australia and his average is just 35, and so far he has not been able to score a single century there. He has 9 half-centuries to his name, but not a single century.
Virat Kohli’s performance in Australia has been better than Root. Kohli has played 13 matches in Australia, in which he has scored 6 centuries and 4 half-centuries at an average of 54. His total runs are 1330, which is much more than Root.
Kane Williamson has played 7 matches in Australia, in which his average is 42. He has two centuries and a half-century to his name, which shows that he has performed well on some special occasions in Australia.
The best performance in Australia has been of Steve Smith, who plays there like his home. He has played 53 matches in Australia and has scored 16 centuries in 13 matches, his average is 62. Smith has taken off like a rocket in Australia, and has performed brilliantly at home.
Overall, while Root and Williamson have struggled in Australia, Kohli has performed brilliantly and Smith has played at a different level at home.
Test Careers in New Zealand
| Player | Span | Matches (M) | Innings (INN) | Runs | High Score (HS) | Average (AVE) | Strike Rate (S/R) | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root | 2013-2023 | 9 | 16 | 788 | 226 | 52.53 | 50.80 | 2 | 4 |
| Kohli | 2014-2020 | 4 | 8 | 252 | 105 | 36.00 | 57.53 | 1 | 1 |
| Kane | 2011-2014 | 49 | 81 | 4747 | 251 | 66.85 | 54.53 | 19 | 19 |
| Smith | 2016-2024 | 4 | 7 | 313 | 138 | 52.16 | 59.96 | 1 | 2 |
New Zealand presents another crucial challenge for cricketers, and the statistics here show some interesting trends.
Joe Root has performed well in New Zealand, playing nine matches with an impressive average of 52. He has scored two centuries in these games, highlighting his strength in these conditions.
Virat Kohli, on the other hand, has a lower average of 36 from his four matches in New Zealand. He has managed just one century, indicating that he has found it tougher to score runs there.
Kane Williamson, playing at home in New Zealand, has been exceptional, with 19 centuries to his name. His performance in New Zealand is outstanding and reflects his skill on familiar turf.
Steve Smith has also played in New Zealand, scoring one century in four matches. His average is 52, but the sample size is relatively small, so it’s hard to draw broad conclusions.
Overall, Joe Root is doing well in New Zealand, and there’s no doubt about his effectiveness in these conditions.
Test Careers in South Africa
| Player | Span | Matches (M) | Innings (INN) | Runs | High Score (HS) | Average (AVE) | Strike Rate (S/R) | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root | 2015-2020 | 8 | 15 | 703 | 110 | 50.21 | 60.81 | 1 | 6 |
| Kohli | 2013-2024 | 9 | 18 | 891 | 153 | 49.50 | 54.03 | 2 | 4 |
| Kane | 2013-2016 | 4 | 7 | 127 | 77 | 21.16 | 48.47 | 0 | 1 |
| Smith | 2014-2018 | 6 | 11 | 411 | 100 | 41.10 | 53.30 | 1 | 2 |
South Africa is often considered a major test due to its challenging conditions, including excellent fast bowling, swing, seam movement, and extra bounce. Here’s how some of the top batsmen have fared in South Africa:
- Joe Root has managed to average 50 in South Africa with one century and six half-centuries. These are solid numbers given the tough conditions.
- Virat Kohli also has a strong average of 49.5 in South Africa, with two centuries. His performances in challenging conditions have been noteworthy, especially as we follow these matches more closely.
- Kane Williamson has struggled more in South Africa, with an average of just 21 from four matches. His performance here is not as impressive as his record elsewhere.
- Steve Smith has an average of 41 in South Africa, which is slightly below his usual standards but still respectable.
Overall, while Joe Root and Virat Kohli have shown strong performances in South Africa, with Kohli slightly ahead, Williamson has struggled. In Australia and New Zealand, performances vary: Kohli excels in Australia, and Root stands out in New Zealand, with other players being more evenly matched.
Test Careers in Asia
| Player | Span | Matches (M) | Innings (INN) | Runs | High Score (HS) | Average (AVE) | Strike Rate (S/R) | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root | 2012-2024 | 28 | 55 | 2437 | 228 | 46.86 | 56.24 | 6 | 11 |
| Kohli | 2011-2023 | 59 | 92 | 4597 | 254* | 56.06 | 58.33 | 16 | 13 |
| Kane | 2010-2023 | 24 | 43 | 2003 | 200* | 48.85 | 47.61 | 7 | 7 |
| Smith | 2013-2023 | 22 | 40 | 1722 | 178* | 47.83 | 44.78 | 5 | 8 |
In Asia, comparing players like Joe Root, Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, and Steve Smith highlights some interesting points:
- Virat Kohli stands out in Asia, given that it is his home ground. His statistics are exceptional, making direct comparisons less meaningful. He has a remarkable average and 16 centuries in the region.
- Joe Root has managed a solid average of around 45-47 in Asia. He has scored six centuries, showing that he adapts well to the conditions, including facing spin bowling effectively.
- Kane Williamson has an average of 48 with seven centuries in Asia. He has performed well, especially considering the challenges of playing against spin on subcontinental pitches.
- Steve Smith has an average of 47 in Asia and has done well in these conditions. His performance indicates that he handles spin and varied conditions effectively.
Overall, all these players have managed to perform well in Asia, which is significant as it demonstrates their ability to play against spin and handle challenging conditions. The pitches in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, although somewhat different, are generally decent for scoring runs.
While Kohli’s performance is exceptional in Asia, Root, Smith, and Williamson have also shown strong performances, making them nearly equal in terms of their ability to score runs in these conditions.
Discussion on Social Media
Michael Vaughan tweet on x plateform about who is the better player. According to analysis, it’s not clear-cut who is superior. Joe Root has impressive numbers with 34 centuries and over 60 half-centuries, which is commendable. However, he has played 145 games, and while it’s true that he plays a lot of cricket in England, recent pitches in India have been extremely challenging, with matches often finishing in two and a half days.
On the other hand, Virat Kohli has been outstanding in Australia, showcasing his exceptional skills. Root’s numbers in Australia are not as strong compared to Kohli’s performance there.
So, it’s an interesting comparison. I don’t think there’s any doubt that Root is one of the greatest players, but Kohli is not far behind. It’s not accurate to say that Root is significantly behind; both have their strengths and unique achievements.
Also Read About- Dawid Malan Stats
Overall Analysis
| Player | Span | Matches (M) | Innings (INN) | Runs | High Score (HS) | Average (AVE) | Strike Rate (S/R) | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root | 2012-2024 | 145 | 265 | 12377 | 254 | 50.93 | 56.98 | 34 | 64 |
| Kohli | 2011-2024 | 113 | 191 | 8848 | 254* | 49.15 | 55.56 | 29 | 30 |
| Kane | 2010-2024 | 100 | 176 | 8743 | 251 | 54.98 | 51.41 | 32 | 34 |
| Smith | 2010-2024 | 109 | 195 | 9685 | 239 | 56.97 | 53.50 | 32 | 41 |
Steve Smith is very close in the comparison, although his recent numbers have declined somewhat. Kane Williamson’s strike rate is excellent, and with 32 centuries in 100 matches, he performs impressively. By comparison, Virat Kohli has 29 centuries and is ranked fourth, while Root leads with 34 centuries.
From this perspective, Kohli appears slightly behind. However, if you analyze country-specific performances, you’ll find that the numbers are almost evenly matched among the players, whether it’s Root or Kohli.
Kohli’s numbers in South Africa and India are relatively ordinary by his high standards. As for Steve Smith, his overall statistics are generally strong, though his recent form has dipped a bit. Without this dip, he could have easily reached 35 centuries. Despite this, Smith remains a formidable player in the game.
