Battle for the best Test batter

The coveted Fab Four, Joe Root, Steven Smith, Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson are obvious choices. However, two younger players in Babar Azam and Marnus Labuschagne deserve to be included in this debate

Who is the best Test batsman in recent times which have been dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic? The list is lengthy and not unsurprisingly filled with many deserving players but everybody has a glitch. The last three years statistics [Jan 1 2019 to the present] cover both normal and abnormal times so I accept them as a good range of scoring tendencies. Statistics aren’t my forte—I tend to favour players who are aggressive and aesthetically pleasing—but they are a guide to being on the right path. 

The list includes the big four; Joe Root, Steve Smith, Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson. However two younger players in Babar Azam and Marnus Labuschagne deserve to be included.

Root comfortably heads the list in both runs scored and centuries amassed while also playing the most innings. Root has an engaging desire to score and collects runs all round the wicket with a wide array of shots. He’s renowned for compiling centuries, but he is the only player in that period to reach double figures [13] in that department. Nevertheless Root’s inability to score a century in Australia despite playing 27 innings is damaging. Root’s Australian struggles include reaching fifty on nine occasions without converting any into a century. A string of low scores at home against South Africa’s strong pace attack is also a warning.

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Unorthodox Smith

Smith is a very unorthodox player but extremely difficult to either contain or dismiss. If this list was compiled before the pandemic he would have been the automatic number one. However a recent tactical change that included the occasional short-pitched barrage and a straighter line of attack with the appropriate field placings, has exposed a chink in his formerly impregnable armour. At least now he looks human.

Marnus Labuschagne; (right) Babar Azam

Kohli is a fine player with a great stroke range, a highly competitive nature and a thoughtful approach to batting. When asked why he doesn’t indulge in typical short-form risky shots he replied; “I don’t want them to creep into my Test game.” Whatever the case—the ageing process or retiring as a captain—Kohli’s output has started to wane and he needs to rekindle the magic.

Kane’s simple technique

Williamson is a dogged competitor, who has a good back-foot game as well as a fascination with running the ball to third man. There is a tendency to under rate Williamson because of his simple technique but he has a great record despite battling a serious elbow injury.

Since playing as a concussion substitute for Smith at Lord’s in 2019 and then establishing himself as a valuable number three, Labuschagne has blossomed into a run machine. Like Smith, Labuschagne is an idiosyncratic batsman but highly effective as he tends to be correct at the point of contact. In a short period Labuschagne has been extremely fortunate as the opposition have not only dropped many of his offered chances but among them are some absolute sitters. How he fares when his luck normalises will determine this innovative player’s worth.

Azam, a complete player

Azam is a complete player with his flowing drives and all round shot range. His footwork is neat and there is an enjoyable artistry that makes his batting compulsive viewing. To round out the picture Azam has a game that fits all three formats, but his Test batting, with an ability to compile centuries, stands out. Josh Hazlewood has dominated Azam in Australia and this created some concerns about his ability on bouncy pitches. However on his second tour of Australia he produced a couple of gems to enhance his reputation as a player to follow.

It’s hard to choose a best player from that talented group. However when you consider that some old-timers preferred Victor Trumper’s artistic style over the acknowledged best batsman in Sir Donald Bradman, the difficulty is not surprising. On their best days it’s hard to surpass the highly competitive Kohli. His twin centuries in a failed but brave victory attempt at Adelaide Oval in 2014 remain my favourite innings out of that group.

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