How Virat Kohli Compares To Joe Root In Tests Between 2021 And 2023? Stat Reveals

England star batter Joe Root continued with his purple patch during the first Ashes Test against Australia at Edgbaston, bringing up his 30th Test century that powered England to a huge score in the first innings, continuing their 'Bazball' style of cricket which emphasises on win, a result at least and is powered by attacking and positive mindset. At the start of 2021, Root was at the bottom of the 'Fab Four', a quartet of modern-day batting greats comprising of him, Virat Kohli from India, Steve Smith from Australia and Kane Williamson from New Zealand in terms of centuries scored in Tests. Virat was at the top with 27, Smith next with 26, Williamson at third with 24 and Root at the bottom with 17.

Now midway of 2023, Root has left behind these aforementioned batting superstars by a huge margin.

From 2021 start till this day, Root has scored 3,299 runs at an average of 58.91. In 62 innings, he has managed 13 centuries and nine half-centuries, with the best score of 228.

During this time period, no other batsman has managed even 2,000 Test runs.

His second and distant rival is Sri Lanka's Test skipper Dimuth Karunaratne. In 19 matches in this period, he has scored 1,972 runs at an average of 59.75. Across 34 innings, he has scored seven centuries and ten fifties, with the best score of 244. At the third position is Australia's Marnus Labuschagne. In 23 Tests played during this period, he has scored 1,873 runs at an average of 55.08. In 39 innings, he has managed six centuries and seven fifties, with the best score of 204.

Coming to his competition among the 'Fab Four', Root is just as next-level as he is with other players.

Root's most distant rival among these once-in-a-generation batting stars is Smith. In 23 matches