Joe Root vs Virat Kohli vs Kane Williamson in Tests

[PlayerComparisons]

I'd probably go Root >= Kohli >= Williamson if they all retired today

 

[TheJediBrah]

Agree. Root is the best right now. Maybe even better than Smith but hard to tell cause the latter hasn't been playing much

 

[_00_deathscar]

Kohli’s form has been shocking

However his peak makes up for it.

Kohli > Root > Williamson

That Root is in the conversation is a pretty huge turnaround.

 

[Bolo.]

Agree. Root is the best right now. Maybe even better than Smith but hard to tell cause the latter hasn't been playing much

This fab 4 idea is incredibly persistent. Every single regular poster on this site agrees that there is no more fab 4... it is Smith, then the other 3 (however you rank them), and Smith is still getting mentioned as soon as as the other 3 come up in a post together.

 

[TheJediBrah]

This fab 4 idea is incredibly persistent. Every single regular poster on this site agrees that there is no more fab 4... it is Smith, then the other 3 (however you rank them), and Smith is still getting mentioned as soon as as the other 3 come up in a post together.

You think I'm overrating Smith? Only brought it up to emphasise how good Root has been

 

[Bolo.]

You think I'm overrating Smith? Only brought it up to emphasise how good Root has been

Dont think he belongs in this converstation (as you, and everyone else, are well aware, he is way better than the others), and the reason you are putting him in is the fab 4 thing, cos these 4 names have been linked so often.

 

[ankitj]

Over their whole careers, Kohli might still be ahead.

 

[Coronis]

Root’s recent run of form doesn’t make up for his **** past few years. Seriously though, he’s played 50 more innings than Williamson and has less centuries, c’mon.

 

[Flem274*]

Kane

 

[_00_deathscar]

Kane

The question was "Who's the best player", not "Who's the most Kiwi"...

 

[Flem274*]

The question was "Who's the best player", not "Who's the most Kiwi"...

ok

Kane

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Root’s recent run of form doesn’t make up for his **** past few years. Seriously though, he’s played 50 more innings than Williamson and has less centuries, c’mon.

This, as brilliant as Root has been this year Williamson is a better player and Kohli looks like he may be on a downward spiral given his lack of form in the last few years.

 

[Arachnodouche]

KW needs to have a huge away series to reset his record. For a batsman of his qualities he has been mediocre abroad.

 

[Teja.]

Split tbh, but Kohli's peak was much better than the other two. Root's low ebbs are still very decent though unlike Kohli. Root will probably take this by the end of his career and KW will probably end up of ahead of Kohli if Kohli doesn't have a major second leg. Kohli at his peak was a demon even on very low scoring games in extremely tough conditions though and it's not appreciated as much as his 6 double centuries at home in 15 games or w/e.

The 2018 away tours to England and SA where he was batting on a different planet to everyone else:

 

[ImpatientLime]

if root finally piles them up in australia this winter then i think he could overtake both.

its a huge black mark on his record.

 

[Jack1]

Williamson.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Root’s recent run of form doesn’t make up for his **** past few years. Seriously though, he’s played 50 more innings than Williamson and has less centuries, c’mon.

No way is Williamson better than root.

Root averages 52 in England, 50 in India, 50 in South Africa, 66 in Sri Lanka, 57 in UAE, 54 in West Indies, His lowest 2 averages are nearly 40 (39 in New Zealand and 38 in Australia). Williamson averages 33 in England, 35 in India, 21 in South Africa, 27 in Sri Lanka. He averages 43 in Australia, which is good but you'd expect it to be higher if the highest of those 5 nations. Roots away record is significantly better than Williamson and he has basically no support around him and walks in basically as an opener in English conditions half the time, while Williamson has excellent support around him. It doesn't matter if he has less centuries when his away record is so much better than Williamsons.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

if root finally piles them up in australia this winter then i think he could overtake both.

its a huge black mark on his record.

Yes and Williamson has even more black marks in his record in England/India/South Africa/Sri Lanka/ (averages 43 in Australia which is good but you'd expect it to be higher if its the highest of the 5). Kohli has got black marks in England/New Zealand/West Indies. Root averages nearly 40 in his 2 lowest nations (39 in New Zealand and 38 in Australia). Kohli and root are debatable but no way is Williamson better than root.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

This, as brilliant as Root has been this year Williamson is a better player and Kohli looks like he may be on a downward spiral given his lack of form in the last few years.

Williamsons away record reflects that he's a worse player than Root, unless we're just going to ignore that.

 

[Jack1]

Williamsons away record reflects that he's a worse player than Root, unless we're just going to ignore that.

The judgement is overall in Tests. You didn't specify away. Williamson has performed very well at home and neutral. He also bats 3. Overall there is average daylight for Williamson. I consider runs at 3 more of a contribution for the team also.