Joe Root vs Steve Smith: Who is the Best in Test Cricket?

Australia's Steve Smith and England's Joe Root are two of the greatest batters to have graced Test cricket. Steve Smith is an unorthodox batter, he is often hailed as the best test batsman after Sir Don Bradman.

Meanwhile, Root has the competence to become the highest run-scorer in Test cricket. He is currently in the form of his life. Recently Joe Root relinquished the Test captaincy. Both have had stupendous careers since they arrived in red-ball cricket.

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Both Steve Smith and Joe Root are among the rare breed of cricketers. The hunger to score runs has made them a living legend in the longest and the purest format of the game. The contest between these duo is becoming interesting day by day. Let's compare their stats and records below to know who is the best.

Stats of Joe Root and Steve Smith

Steve Smith

Steve Smith has slammed 8161 runs in 87 Tests. He has a monstrous average of 60.01 in Test cricket. At home, he has scored 3901 runs at an average of 62.91. That includes 14 hundred and 16 fifties. In away conditions, he has aggregated 3986 runs in 40 Tests, averaging a stellar 59.92. He has 14 hundred and 17 fifties in the overseas tests. He has 274 runs from four Tests across neutral venues.

Joe Root

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Joe Root has scored 5135 runs in Test cricket at home. He averages 52.93, he has 15 centuries and 25 fifties at home. He is the highest to score six Test tons against India at home. His away-from-home stats are also staggering, with smashing 11 test tons and 25 fifties he has scored 4593 runs in overseas tests at an average of 45.93. He has hammered four centuries versus the west indies. At a neutral venue, he has 287 runs with three fifties.

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Records in the Ashes

Smith has smashed 3044 runs across 32 tests in the Ashes. He has smacked 11 centuries and as many half-centuries. He stamped his best score (239) in Perth in 2017-18.

Root, on the other hand, has stacked up 2,016 runs in 29 matches. He averages a modest 38.76, compared to Smith's 59.68. He has three centuries to go along with 16 fifties.

Performance as a Captain in Tests

Joe Root led England in 64 tests out of which he won 27, lost 26, and 11 draws. He amassed a total of 5,295 runs as skipper, averaging 46.45. He hammered 14 tons and 26 fifties. Recently Joe Root relinquished himself from test captaincy.

Smith captained Australia across 35 Tests out of which he won 19 tests, lost 10, and 6 were drawn. He aggregated 3,758 runs while averaging a jaw-dropping 69.59. He clocked 15 tons and 14 fifties. After the sandpaper incident, he was suspended as a captain and also as a player due to which he lost his captaincy.

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Performance in ICC World Test Championship 2021-23

Joe Root is the first batter to surpass 1500 Test runs in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 cycle. He has 1744 runs at 64.59. Root has amassed eight tons and five fifties in the ongoing WTC cycle. Meanwhile, Steve Smith, on the other hand, has scored 621 runs at 44.35. He has recorded only one century and five fifties in 15 Test innings.

Who is the bigger Match-Winner in away conditions?

Joe Root has scored 1724 runs in 14 away test wins. He has a sensational average of 71.83. He has seven hundred and four fifties under his belt.

Smith's numbers in the away test are mind-boggling, he is ahead of Root by significant margins. He has scored 2140 runs in 14 away wins. He averages a breathtaking 101.90 with nine hundred and nine fifties. Also, interestingly he has 5 test tons in England.

Also Read: Test Cricket Records: Youngest to reach 10,000 Test runs

So, according to these stats and comparisons, both of them has a different type of records underneath their name. They have achieved a lot in the longest format of the game and will continue to do so. Among the duo of Root and Smith, who is your favorite? Let us know in the comments and follow SportzPoint for more like this.