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HomeCricket DialecticsA Debate Beyond Numbers: Joe Root vs Virat Kohli, who is the Better test Batsman?

A Debate Beyond Numbers: Joe Root vs Virat Kohli, who is the Better test Batsman?

Is Joe Root better than Virat Kohli in Test Cricket?

English Batsman Joe Root has been in his prime test form since 2021. In the recent test match against New Zealand in Wellington, he hit a brave reverse-ramp shot, completing his 36th century. Joe Root is known for his flexible and consistent batting adaptability on various pitches. He is England’s leading test run scorer. He has 12,886 runs in tests and sits fifth on the all-time list of the most test runs scored by a batsman.

Root has been continuing to dominate in all conditions, with his remarkable resilience and his mental strength. Proving he is currently one of the best test batsmen in the world. The question that arises is, does Joe Root beat Virat Kohli as the best test batsman in test cricket?

How do their stats line up against each other

Joe Root has surpassed his competition, including Virat Kohli, in test cricket with remarkable stats. Root has scored 12,886 runs, which is just 492 shy of Ricky Ponting’s second-place mark in the list of most runs in a career in Tests. He also holds the record for most fourth-innings runs, with 1,630 and counting.

Root’s 2021 form is a statement of his excellent batting performance, as he scored 5,063 runs at a 56.26 average. Meanwhile, Kohli has 9163 runs across 205 innings. His form has been declining in recent years, especially in red-ball cricket. Joe Root’s consistent batting, particularly in recent years, has helped him move above Kohli in the race for the greatest test batsman of the current generation.

Conclusion Beyond Statistics

Virat Kohli’s marvelous career with 80 centuries makes him the best batsman of this generation. This extends his place among the greatest to ever play beyond numbers. Kohli’s decline in recent years, particularly in Test cricket, highlights how external factors can affect a good performer as well.

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Joe Root, with his recent surge in form, exemplifies consistency and adaptability, which, in addition to his statistics, makes him a great test batsman. Ultimately, greatness in Test cricket is defined not just by runs, but by how players perform and evolve in varying challenges.

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