FEATURE
Follow UsJoe Root has had a world of his own in the Fab-four universe. Since the existence of the common adage that now represents him, Steve Smith, Virat Kohli, and Kane Williamson, never once has his trajectory mapped out with the other three.
It was the year 2014 in which all these four batters started to score consistently and a notion of the Fab-four began to surface. At the end of 2014, Root had an average of 97.1 in 11 innings, Smith averaged 81.9 in 17 innings, Williamson averaged 61.9 in 17 innings and Kohli had averaged 44.6 in 20 innings in that calendar year.
Post-2014, in none of the other eight years, Root averaged less than 35. Apart from the ongoing year 2022, the same goes for Williamson. In fact, in none of the years, Williamson’s average dropped below 45.
As for the other two batters, they had one or the other year where their average dropped below 35. Smith in 2018 and 2020 averaged 32.1 and 18.3. As for Kohli, the year 2020 (19.3) and 2021 (28.2) saw an average drop.
The pinnacle years
Virat Kohli
Peak years: 2016 to 2019
69 innings, 4208 runs, 66.8 average, 50s/100s 10/16
Virat Kohli began his 2016 with a Test average of 44 and 11 hundreds in 41 Tests. While it was a decent record, it wasn’t pathbreaking to aptly reflect the greatness of someone of his stature.
Kohli mended it with his first peak that went on for four years. In the first half, he became invincible at home. He had a double hundred in each of the first four series - against West Indies in the Caribbean followed by New Zealand, England, and Bangladesh at home. Despite a blip against Australia, Kohli averaged 75.8 in these two years with 26 of his 34 innings at home.
In the latter half, he showcased his range as an overseas batter. 22 off his 24 innings in the 2018-19 period came in tough conditions in the SENA countries and Kohli scored back-against-the-wall tons everywhere. In a true sense, this was the most memorable period for Kohli the Test batter.
Overall, he hammered 16 hundreds in these four years including six double centuries in this period. At the same time, Root averaged 47.2, Williamson 54.7, and Smith 66.9. Smith, however, had a horror 2018.
Steve Smith
Peak years: 2014 to 2017
79 innings, 5004 runs, 75.8 average, 50s/100s 17/21
Smith’s peak began with his re-introduction to Test cricket. After four centuries in the home series against India, he accrued tough hundreds in New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka, and India. To add more about his peak, he is the only player to score 1000+ runs at an average of 70+ every year for four consecutive years.
Consequently, his average rose from 34.6 at the start of 2014 to 63.6 by the end of 2017. Fair to say, the right-hander was in a zone of his own. Each of Kohli (58.8), Williamson (64.50), and Root (57.6) had great numbers in this period but couldn’t catch up to this Australian run machine.
The juggernaut only stopped with the infamous ball-tampering incident in South Africa that kept him away from the game for one year.
Kane Williamson
Peak years: 2014 to 2021
91 innings, 5083 runs, 63.5 average, 50s/100s 20/19
2014 was the first year when Williamson averaged over 50 in a calendar year of Test cricket. His best year came in 2015 when he scored over 1000 runs at an average of 90.2. Barring 2016, he has maintained handsome averages every year, hence an elongated peak.
But what makes Williamson’s case interesting is the difference in home and away conditions of late. Since 2017, he has averaged 73.4 in 19 Tests at home as compared to 38.9 in 10 away matches. This contrast alongside a recurring elbow injury has halted his progress. He has featured in only one Test this year at present, managing 17 runs.
Joe Root
Peak years: 2014 to 2016, 2021 - present
129 innings, 6797 runs, 57.1 average, 50s/100s 35/20
Root began justifying the hype around him in 2014, with a 777-run year at an average of 97.1. In the subsequent three years, he gathered over 950 runs each. He had the advantage of more Test cricket than his peers but the average of 49 or more speaks for his consistency.
It was followed by an inexplicable blip where Root struggled to convert his 50s. It was a period when he was falling behind in the Fab 4. However, he caught up in style with one of the most productive years for a Test batter, smashing 1708 runs in 2021. It is a mammoth run tally even for a year of 15 Tests.
From 2021 to date, Root has scored over 2000 runs with nine centuries. On the other hand, Kohli hasn’t had a century and Williamson and Smith have scored a century apiece. Root’s second peak has coincided with a period of a lull for his counterparts in Fab 4.
To accentuate it further, Williamson, Kohli, and Smith have scored 1910 runs between them since 2021. Root alone has scored 2192.
Can Root sustain to emulate Sachin?
Root's stellar form and England's large appetite for Test cricket make him the only contender to surpass Sachin Tendulkar's tally of runs. But, the biggest question is how long can the batter sustain the form? When Sir Alastair Cook registered 10k runs at the age of 31 years and 157 days, the talk of the town was about him beating Sachin’s record. However, Cook retired two years after reaching the 10k-run landmark. Now, the focus shifts towards Root, who achieved the feat at the same age as Cook.
Root is currently 5907 runs behind Sachin’s tally of 15921. On average, barring his two innings in 2012, Root has played close to 22 (21.6) innings every year since 2013. If Root continues to score 50 runs per innings consistently, he has the chance of scoring approximately 1080 runs per year.
By this calculation, he can emulate Sachin’s record in around five years and five months. In terms of innings, he would need 118.1 innings to achieve the feat. Again, it is completely dependent on how long he can sustain the same form.
