Joe Root, Kane Williamson, Virat Kohli and Steve Smith. Image Credit: X

New Zealand’s Kane Williamson sparked fresh excitement among the fans with his latest take on the legendary “Fab Four” of the modern era, featuring himself, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and Joe Root.

As the battle for dominance among the world’s finest batters continues, Kane Williamson shared his thoughts on the three other titans who, along with him, have been dominating Test cricket over the past decade.

It’s no secret that India’s batting maestro Virat Kohli has long been regarded as the ultimate all-format batter, but Kane Williamson, who is currently in India, pointed out a surprising shift in recent times.

Kane Williamson praises Fab Four rivals, calls Joe Root ‘Phenomenal’ in Tests

While Virat Kohli’s performance in Test cricket has dipped slightly in the last couple of years, England’s Joe Root has risen to extraordinary heights in the traditional format of the game.

Root’s staggering numbers since 2021 tell the story—4567 runs in just 49 Tests, including a mind-boggling 17 centuries, elevating himself to the top of the ICC Test rankings with 922 rating points.

Kane Williamson, who is currently enjoying his own run of sublime form with 480 runs in just four Tests this year, was quick to express admiration for Kohli, Smith, and Root.

The former New Zealand captain acknowledged Virat Kohli’s brilliance across all formats but admitted that Joe Root has taken his Test game to new heights, especially since the pandemic era.

Even Kane Williamson has openly declared himself a huge fan of the former England captain, highlighting Root’s consistency and technical brilliance that has left fans and critics in awe.

The Kiwi legend hinted that Root’s current trajectory could see him achieve even greater things in the coming years, as his hunger for runs shows no signs of slowing down.

Williamson also hailed Australia’s Smith for his unconventional style but unmatched resilience. He has also been amazing in the Test arena, completing the Fab Four of the modern era in tests.

Joe Root’s phenomenal rise in Test Cricket earns Kane Williamson’s praise amid Fab Four rivalry

Kane Williamson was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times: “You mentioned Joe Root. He has been something else for a long period. There is a lot of attention on what he might be able to achieve in a number of years, and it’s just incredible that that conversion can even be had.

He has been phenomenal. I have been a big fan of his. Not just him, but the other guys (Virat Kohli and Steven Smith) as well. Amazing how they have sort of moved the game forward in a big way.”

New Zealand will play a one-off Test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida, Delhi, from September 9, and then they will travel to Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series. The New Zealand team will then return to India for a three-match Test series, and Williamson is aware of challenges ahead.

Williamson signed off by saying, “I mean, we are going to be challenged in a number of ways. But, the opportunity to have a block here for us as a team to look have the sort of experiences that we are going to have for the next sort of two-and-a-half months and be better for it.

It’s an exciting opportunity. Nice to be here, preparing for the first Test. We are looking to take those small steps and try and get familiar with those conditions.”