Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, Joe Root and Virat Kohli represent the modern-day superstars and are all currently vying for that number-one status of ‘world best batsmen’.
What helps add to the competition is that all four of these Superstars are currently middle-order batsmen and happen to be captain of their respective Test sides. You have to go back to the 80s in the era of the all-rounder to find such elite competition all at one position.
In the 80s greats such as Richard Hadlee, Ian Botham, Imran Khan and Kapil Dev all fought year in, year out for the title of the worlds best all-rounder and all have gone down in history as all-time greats.
Richard Hadlee of New Zealand – 3124 runs and 431 wickets – is considered one of the greatest bowlers of all time who could also be relied upon for consistent lower-order runs.
Ian Botham of England – 5200 runs and 383 wickets – was one of the most devastating one-two punches in cricket history, often bludgeoning attacks for brutal quick fire runs, then knocking teams over with intelligent line and length bowling.
Imran Khan of Pakistan – 3807 runs and 362 wickets – is Pakistan’s undoubted all-time best player and began the era of the Pakistan quick swing bowlers. It helped that he could also bat particularly well in any position.
Kapil Dev of India – 5248 runs and 434 wickets – held the world record for a time with the most wickets in Test match history, which is not bad for a guy who also smacked eight Test centuries.
Compare that to the modern day superstars: Smith (5251 runs at 61), Root (4594 runs at 53), Williamson (5116 runs at 51) and Kohli (4497 runs at 49). Obviously they are completely different players to the four mentioned above, but they are similar in the sense that they are widely considered the four best cricketers in the world at this moment.
These four push each other and all seem to lift their games when facing one another, just like in the 1980s when Hadlee would lift against Botham’s Poms and Dev would make it his mission to devastate the Pakistani top order just to get one over Khan.
Rivalry drives players to push harder, and the modern day superstars are no different. Smith, Root, Williamson and Kohl are undoubtedly the best players on their respective teams and are all currently sitting inside the top five of ICC rankings for world’s best batsmen.
If they continue pushing each other at this rate, they will all go down as the four greatest batsmen of a generation in a way not seen since the all-rounders of the 80s.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
I have already commented how impressive Kohli is in the shortened format. You however, refuse to even comment on his shortcomings in the test arena when compared to the other members of cricket's big 4. I have to admit that i expected no less. I appreciate your passion for Kohli but you need to at least be objective but that hurts when the facts don't support your 'superstar'. For the record, I am a huge Virat Kohli fan, not only for his batting but also for his on-field aggression. That doesn't change the fact that Smith and Williamson are well ahead of him in the test arena, and Joe Root is more than his equal. To cricketing purists, like myself, test cricket is the only true measure of greatness. You are free to be more excited by a T20 run chase if you so choose. I expect you are especially impressed by Lewis' run-chasing knock to beat your Indian side
amreeka
Guest
hi ICYMI kohli just left sachin behind in most hundreds in chases in an unimportant and useless odi format at just 28 years of age , just let me know if other three players have 10 hundreds in chases combined
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
I don't think you like when the facts don't support your theory or have you forgotten his home test series 46 runs in five innings. In the test arena, as I stated, Kohli has the lowest average of the four. Yes, he averaged 75 in 2016, but since you highlighted the last two years, lets look closely at that time period in test cricket, which is the flagship format of the game and the format where true greatness is measured. Since 2015 tests runs and averages are as follows- Kohli 2143 runs @ 56 Root 3052 runs @ 56 Williamson 2393 runs @ 68 Smith 3135 runs @ 71 Kohli's average is very good and closely aligned with Joe Root for that same time period. However it is significantly less than both Williamson and Smith and despite all the adoration from Indian fans, if you aren't the best batsman in test cricket, you simply aren't the best batsman. Kohli may be the best performing batsman in the shorter formats but until he performs better in the test arena than Root, Williamson and Smith, he cannot be considered the best bat in the world. Well, not by anyone with half a brain and some understanding of the game.
amreeka
Guest
i dont think u were watching cricket for last 2 years kohli averages above 75 last year in both test and odi much much better than others and over all three formats combined none of the other three are even close to him and regarding superstar status hisfame is more than rest three three ofthem combined
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
If only Kohli fans could face the fact that he is the weakest of the "big 4" in the test arena. Check the stats. They tell the story. AB De Villiers has a better test average than Kohli and he didn't even get a mention. Kohli is ahead of the others in the hit and giggle T20 format though.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
One should probably add Keith Miller into the mix when speaking of possible best all-rounders. Stats wise he and Imran are very comparable. Sobers is, in my opinion, the best ever batting all-rounder with Kallis next in line. The best ever bowling all-rounder is a tougher call with Hadlee, Imran, Miller and even Shaun Pollock staking claims. Its a shame Mike Proctor was limited to only a handful of tests, due to apartheid. Who knows how his test career would have gone? He was still a handful in WSC Supertests.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
How quickly have we forgotten Voges... lol On a more serious note... Root needs only overtake Cook to be Englands best bat ever?? Alastair Cook isn't even close to England's best batsman. Cook is currently 18th on England's best test average list (30 innings +) with a test average of 46.8. Joe Root is already miles ahead of Cook as England's best test batsman but has a few of the very best to knock off before he can wear the crown you are gifting him. I suggest you look at the careers of Sutcliffe, Hammond, Barrington, Hutton and Hobbs before making such claims. Joe Root is certainly in the mix to be England's very best but Cook was never on the radar. Despite a brilliant test debut (a ton in the second innings of his first test), Cook's test average has not been 50 (the base measure of batting greatness) since his 10th test, save for a brief two innings venture during the 2012 series in India. I can't fathom how anybody could suggest he is England's best ever. I could argue he has rarely been the best batsman in his side. Root has surpassed him in recent years and prior to that Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell had as much claim to the England's best tag as Cook. I will concede that Cook, in 2012, was England's highest test run scorer. Strauss was in 2009, Trott 2010, Bell 2011 and 2103 and Root 2014, 2015 & 2016. For the record, I am an Alastair Cook fan, but there needs be some hint of reality.
amreeka
Guest
lol only kohli is a superstar other three are just good and a bit famous players and he is miles ahead of every1 in the three formats others wont even make into three format teams
Pope Paul VII
Guest
I would love to see a throwback to 80s pitches and unrestricted bouncers.
Ben Sewell
Roar Pro
I agree, Hadlee would be one of the best bowlers in history regardless of his batting, that was just a bonus. And I would choose Khan or Sobers as best all rounder of all time.
Matt H
Roar Guru
To me it's more like the Tendulkar, Lara, Ponting, Kallis arguments. Regarding the allrounders, Hadlee was the best bowler over his career. Botham had the greatest peaks as an all round player, Dev was the most explosive but Imran Khan proved to be the best all round package.
Matt H
Roar Guru
What a relief. When I read the heading I thought this was going to be a press release from Cricket Australia about Alan Border putting together a team from the 80's to play this years Ashes!
Ben Sewell
Roar Pro
I agree to an extent but I think the presence of each other further drives their performances. Smith bats much better against india, williamson lifts against england etc. They're all world class but, their averages don't lie.
Savage
Roar Rookie
ok,williamson has done fine for his team but root has been irresponsible at times.i believe root is arguably most complete player if we consider all types of condition(whether swing,seam and spin).In india, he got fifty in all 5 test but did'nt get any hundred(he basically had no impact whatsoever in that series).Despite having higher averages,root has managed only(11 centuries in 54 matches including 3 away) whereas kohli(16 in 57 matches including 9 overseas) and williamson(17 in 61 matches including 10 away).he will certainly remove this weakness(of getting out btw 50 and 100) with time.but atm he has'nt played many impactful innings in his career.although there is little to seperate between kohli,root and williamson.
Ben Sewell
Roar Pro
Yeah look I don't disagree with your Smith comment. He's an absolute beast at the moment and if he keeps up at this rate, he'll be our best ever since Bradman (sorry Ricky). Credit where credit is due however, i think you're under valuing root and williamson's roles on their teams. Williamson at this rate will be NZ's best ever (only behind Hadlee) and Root has the chance to be Englands best ever Bat (if he over takes Cook which I think he will eventually).
Savage
Roar Rookie
atm smith is easily best batsmen in the world.i think kohli is a distant second but needs to improve his test record.(he is also no1 ranked batsmen in both odis and t20s).I am not sure how much impactful innings root(barring last ashes series) and williamson plays for their team even though both are pretty consistent.