In a recent chat, former England captain Michael Vaughan called Joe Root the best Test batter. That same discussion saw former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist naming Indian star Virat Kohli as simply the best in his league. While both of these gentlemen concurred that there is no doubt about it that Kohli is indeed a better batsman when it comes to limited overs cricket, Vaughan supported Root’s claim based on his current form in the longest version of the game. On the other hand, Gilchrist countered by saying that Root has played Test matches without scoring a century on Australian soil.
He also referred to one among others as having been Kohli’s finest innings ever-knocking-up 123 runs against Australia at Perth in 2018.
Here’s the entire conversation:
“You know Joe Root’s last statistics are great, it means he is the best England player ever,” said Gichrist on Club Prairie Fire podcast.
In the first Test match that was played at Perth stadium, Virat managed to hit one of the finest tons that I have ever witnessed; it was something else entirely. Probably I would say Virat,” he added.
“Otherwise it would be Joe Root all day with me in every other place except for Australia,” Vaughan argued.
Root is having one of his best patches throughout whole career. Last month, he scored a century in both innings of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s.
Root’s achievement made him overtake Alastair Cook as the player with most hundreds amongst England players; he hit an incredible 33rd and 34th test ton respectively.
On another hand, Kohli last century was made against WestIndies last July 2023 before which he has only managed four fifties during this period.
So far, Virat has been able to bag 8848 runs in 113 Tests which include 29 hundreds, while Root so far possesses 50.93 runs per match with 12,377 runs amassed from 145 Tests played.
