Super Smith sets Kohli challenge in race to the top
NEWDELHI: Steve Smith’s exploits in 2017 has cemented his reputation as one of the best batsmen in the modern era. His Test numbers have left his illustrious contemporaries (captain-batsmen) far behind.
After his 23rd century helped Australia draw the Boxing Day Test, some of the stats make staggering reading. In 11 Tests this year, Smith has 1,305 runs at an average of 76 with six centuries. For the fourth consecutive time, he has crossed 1,000 runs in a calendar year. After 60 Tests, he has 5,972 runs at an average of 63.55.
It was a close tussle between Smith and Kohli with Root and Williamson left behind. Both batsmen’s fifty to hundred conversion rate was phenomenal. Both scored big hundreds. Kohli was ahead in big scores, three double tons to Smith’s one.
The Australian skipper’s consistency though trumps Kohli. The Indian skipper went without a fifty for seven innings in a row – five of them versus visiting Australia.
Overseas performances make him supreme again. In six Tests, Smith has 618 runs at an average of 56, including 499 runs in tough conditions in India (8 innings, 3 tons). India played only three Tests away, all in Sri Lanka. Kohli scored 161 runs, at 53.
For England’s Joe Root and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, poor conversion and lack of games were issues. Root
has only two centuries.
There were batsmen other than the quartet too who were prolific. Cheteshwar Pujara (1,140 runs, 4x100), South Africa’s Dean Elgar (1,128, 5x100), Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne (1,031, 3x100) and Dinesh Chandimal (1,003, 3x100), and Aussie David Warner (997, 4x100) were also on top in 2017.
In 2018, the tussle between Smith and Kohli looks set to reach great heights. India play 15 Tests with the chance to shine in overseas series.