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Joe Root vs Virat Kohli vs Kane Williamson in Tests

Who's the best test batsmen?

  • Joe Root

    Votes: 17 40.5%
  • Virat Kohli

    Votes: 7 16.7%
  • Kane Williamson

    Votes: 18 42.9%

  • Total voters
    42
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Zinzan

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Hmm bit of intellectual dishonesty going on here. Folks on one-hand want to factor the nuance of KW's full overseas record for 'context', while on the other hand discounting the obvious nuance that he was picked at a ridiculously young age, and that in fact his record in the last 6-7 years since the age of 23-24 (when most test batsmen debut) is amongst the top 3-4 of all time. IIRC averaging an insane 65-66 since that time, and as pointed out above, an overseas average closer to 50.

I venture to add if KW was born in Australia (as an example), he'd likely not have been good enough to push for test inclusion until around that age of 23-24, and assuming he was a mainstay in the side, he would have enjoyed the benefits of many more tests per year, higher sample sizes away & the continuity of playing the odd 4-5 test series, as opposed to inclusively 2-3.

I'd also expect him to perform on those predominately flat Australia decks (in the last 6-7 years) more like he did in the 2015 series, where he dealt with Hazel, Starc & Johnson with ease, as opposed to that series as a 21 year old in 2011 & the 2019 shocker series where he struggled with the elbow injury in 2 tests, and was injured in the 3rd test. Again horribly small sample even in Australia where he averages a more than respectable 43, when you consider it's made up of just 7 tests spanning 10 years. Context is not one-dimensional.
 

The Sean

Cricketer Of The Year
Sachin to get his average retrospectively adjusted to 70 due to starting playing when he was 17.
It's partly why I genuinely think Sachin was a Bradman level talent.
Isn't that essentially what we already do with Tendulkar though? I mean, I wouldn't go quite so far as "adjusting to 70" (which I realise isn't 100% serious) or "Bradman-level" but I don't think any of us look at his Test average of "only" 53 without realising how extraordinarily good that is in the context of debuting at 16 and retiring at 40.
 
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honestbharani

Whatever it takes!!!
Fair enough
To elaborate, I dont agree with that and that is not how I rate players. Ultimately, if you are picked you are considered good enough to play at that level. But I can understand this is another way of looking at players and as long as you apply it the same to everyone, its understandable.
 

Flem274*

123/5
No ones arguing Williamson is better than Tendulkar though. He isn't close. Only Bradman, Hobbs, Sobers, Smith, Hammond and peak Richards can try that.

It's entertaining watching people claim the games a 20-23 year old batting #3 count for everything whereas a supposed peak of his powers batsman can't buy a run for nearly two years because he chases outswingers like Peter Fulton but that doesn't count at all. Root came into test cricket well protected down the order. I remember watching him early on and getting the sinking feeling he'd troll my team for 15 years.

I'd take Root on current form out of the entire fab 4, but he has some catching up to do numbers wise. The averages are excellent but disguise the constant 70s and 80s. The other three, if their average is high somewhere, tend to get the job done as well.

There's actually a fair enough argument for rating Kohli and Root over Williamson, but you're not even making it because you've found a statsguru average. Kohli tends to go on absolute streaks (partly due to greater opportunity) when he's hot and his obnoxiousness gets under the opposition skin, giving India a mental edge. Root lately (besides the 2 test blip) looks like taking over from Smith in the 'I'm a level above the other 21 players on this field' thing.

I'm starting to learn it speaks volumes in player comparisons if people spend a lot of time tearing someone down without actually making the case for the other guy. If you want to play statsguru I'll make some Kohli/Root ABSOLUTE SPUD video compilations.
 

Flem274*

123/5
I like how we're allowed to ignore the start of KW's career when he was ****, but not allowed to do that for Jimmy Anderson 8-)
Kane averages well into the 50s despite the slow start. Anderson averages 25, which is more equivalent to a 45-29 average.
 
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