Whose test career will end last?

[ataraxia]

With the possible exception of Root, the Big Four are nearing the end. Place your bets on who will last the longest.

 

[Daemon]

Kohli’s leaving first for sure. Don’t think he even wants to be there anymore.

Smith will stay on because he’s got nothing else going for him and he loves batting too much.

 

[Spark]

I'd be actually surprised if Smith goes beyond the next Ashes (next summer) one way or another.

 

[social]

I'd be actually surprised if Smith goes beyond the next Ashes (next summer) one way or another.

Reckon Marnus could go before Smith

He’s been poor for a while now and owed a lot of his early success to a ridiculous amount of dropped catches

 

[Prince EWS]

Easier for Kane to prolong his career when NZ play less Tests and he still skips all the hard away tours.

 

[trundler]

Easier for Kane to prolong his career when NZ play less Tests and he still skips all the hard away tours.

This but without the coward emoji

 

[Coronis]

Williamson. And with the fewer tests he plays he’ll have less of an impact on his average if he hits a decline.

 

[Thala_0710]

Williamson. And with the fewer tests he plays he’ll have less of an impact on his average if he hits a decline.

Nice and cleaner avg, no real steep decline, might be regarded as better Root and Kohli by future generations

 

[andruid]

Jadeja.

 

[centurymaker]

Things can change very quickly at their respective ages. Anyone of them could end last.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

I think Smith will try to play till the 2027 ashes

 

[Zinzan]

Genuinely tough question this.

KW is the most injury prone & is probably one decent injury away from retiring. He may at a stretch look as far ahead as the 4 Test Australian series in 26/27 as his swansong.

Smith will come down to his own desire to play, which leaves Kohli the only one likely to get the quiet shove, especially if he doesn't score runs in Australia, so for that reason I'll say Kohli.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

I don't think it will be Williamson. With the likes of Young, Chapman, Bruce, Dale Phillips, Severin, Kelly, the O'Donnells, Foxcroft, Heaphy, Abbas, Mariu, and Hugo "GOAT wonderkid" Bogue etc. all waiting in the wings NZ has clearly far more batting depth and strength than India and Australia, so thus there is more competition for KDub's spot than for Kohli's or Smith's.

And besides we've won series in England (rested) and India (injured) without him, so we probably won't need Kane when we win in Australia in a couple of years

 

[Coronis]

I think Smith will try to play till the 2027 ashes

I think he’d prefer to retire after a home Ashes if given the choice.

Like a 5-0 win in 25-26. Or he could do something completely different.

 

[Molehill]

Also comes down to competition, there doesn't seem much of it for Smith. Young is clearly unlucky to be knocked out of the NZ team by the returning Kane, whilst there are certainly players in the Indian limited overs squads with a lot of talent, whether that transfers to Test of course....

Pretty certain Kohli goes first, I'd have Smith last.

 

[trundler]

Williamson has the easiest schedule but he's also the most likely to be swayed by IPL cash. He's already declined a central contract and may end up pulling a Boult.

 

[BazBall21]

Kane bats on flat pitches at home, he generally faces milder opposition on average than the other three, and his style of play isn't very dependent on physical attributes. If it wasn't for injury issues, I'd have banked on him playing until he's 40.

 

[Chin Music]

I thought it had been generally said that Smith would go after the Ashes next year. Kohli, I would have thought will solider on for a few more months. If there was much merit to selection, he could have gone by now. Williamson as marginally the youngest and with the least hectic schedule should last a fair while yet.

 

[andruid]

I think he’d prefer to retire after a home Ashes if given the choice.

Like a 5-0 win in 25-26. Or he could do something completely different.

Go full circle and hang around the ODI team till the 2027 WC as a bowling all-rounder

 

[SteveNZ]

Easier for Kane to prolong his career when NZ play less Tests and he still skips all the hard away tours.

I see you woke up on Tuesday and chose violence. I hope you have calmed down since.