Cricket
Fab 4 in Cricket: Comparison, Stats, Records, and Achievements (2025)
Explore the Fab 4 in cricket – Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson
Virat Kohli//Getty Images
Fab 4 in Cricket
A term first used by former New Zealand captain and batsman Martin Crowe, the phrase Fab Four cricket chronicled the rise in Test cricket of the following batsman back in 2014: Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson.
Each of these players has made meaty contributions to their respective countries (India, Australia, England, and New Zealand) over the past decade, and there has been continued debate in cricket circles about who the best of this stunning quartet is.
Sportsboom has explored the Fab Four in greater depth, comparing stats, discussing their achievements in the guide, and more.
Overview of Fab 4 Stats
In this section, we have used specific methodology to measure the ‘Fab 4’. Runs are the highest currency to assess the impact they have had in all formats of the game.
We have produced a table highlighting the runs they have clocked up throughout their careers. This considers matches played across each format, including Test centuries, ODI averages, and so forth. After, we have provided some short, concise summaries of each ‘Fab 4’ member, so you can see the impact they had.
Fab 4 Career Runs Table
| Player | Matches (Tests/ODIs/T20s) | Runs (Tests/ODIs/T20s) | Average (Test/ODIs/T20s) | 100s/50s (Tests/ODIs/T20s) |
| Virat Kohli | 123/301/125 | 9230/14180/4188 | 46.85/58.11/48.69 | 100s – 30/51/1
50s – 31/74/39 |
| Steve Smith | 116/170/67 | 10271/5800/1094 | 56.74/43.28/24.86 | 100s – 36/12/0
50s – 41/35/5 |
| Joe Root | 152/177/32 | 12972/6859/893 | 50.87/47.96/35.72 | 100s – 36/17/0
50s – 65/41/5 |
| Kane Williamson | 105/171/93 | 9276/7122/2575 | 54.88/49.11/33.44 | 100s – 33/14/0
50s – 37/47/18 |
Virat Kohli
Having almost single-handedly changed the direction of Indian cricket over the past decade, Virat Kohli’s career stats are exceptional.
Kohli has excelled across all formats of the game, averaging over 50 in Tests, and close to 50 in ODIs and T20s. His aggressive mindset and ability to pick off wayward deliveries on off stump are trademarks of his game.
There are of course, the ICC awards that have come his way too. We’re not just talking about World Cups won. Kohli’s trophy cabinet is bulging with accolades, such as ODI Player of the Year, Cricketer of the Year, and more. We’re fast running out of superlatives to describe Kohli!
Steve Smith
Parking to one side for a moment the ball-tampering scandal that dogged Steve Smith in 2018 and saw him banned for a year, the Australian is one of the most complete Test cricketers in the game.
Smith has been Australia’s main talisman for over a decade, and 36 Test centuries, joint with Joe Root, pays testament to this. Nevertheless, he has come to the fore in key moments, and thrived in past Ashes series against England, churning out over 3,000 runs.
His game, surprisingly, wasn’t suited for T20Is, so he will be more remembered for his Test and ODI exploits when he hangs up his bat.
Joe Root
At Test and ODI level, Joe Root has been prolific. For over a decade, he has carried England’s hopes on his shoulders, and he is fifth on the all-time list of top Test run scorers.
Arguably more restrained compared to the other ‘Fab Four’ representatives, Root is perhaps more of a grinder.
He relished being England’s captain too. 27 wins from 64 Tests may not be the strongest record, but his batting didn’t let him down. He scored 5295 runs as skipper, the highest of any England captain, but he won more matches than any of his other predecessors in the Test arena.
Kane Williamson
Technically proficient, Kane Williamson is best known for what he achieved on the ODI stage. He took New Zealand to successive World Cup finals, and in 2019, the Black Caps came agonisingly close to winning it, but it was snatched out of their hands in a dramatic final Super Over at Lord’s.
That said, he was able to adapt across all formats, and whether it was a dab down to third man or a pull shot, Williamson had it all in his locker.
It’s almost easy to forget that he scored over 9,000 Test runs for New Zealand at an average of just shy of 55.
Comparison of Achievements
In this part of the ‘Fab Four’ examination, we have taken a closer look at each player’s achievements. This table underlines ICC awards and team trophies won, so you can get a clearer idea of the success they enjoyed.
| Player | World Cups won | T20 Champs Won | Test Champs Won | ICC Awards Won |
| Virat Kohli | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Steve Smith | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Joe Root | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kane Williamson | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
Records & Milestones
Here, we have drilled down the stats further, listing some of the records and milestones of each player across all formats. Also, we have pinpointed their best Test, ODIs, and T20 performances.
Virat Kohli (Records)
- Most hundreds scored against one team in ODIs (10).
- Fastest player to reach 14,000 runs in ODIs (287 innings).
- Most fifties in T20 career (59).
Virat Kohli’s Most Memorable Performances:
- Test – 254 not out against South Africa in October 2019.
- ODI – 84 in ICC Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia in March 2025.
- T20I – 122 not out from 61 deliveries in the Men’s T20 Asia Cup against Afghanistan in September 2022.
Steve Smith (Records)
Steve Smith of Australia//Getty Images
- Most catches in a Test innings (5).
- Fastest to 8,000 Test runs (151 innings).
Steve Smith’s Most Memorable Performances:
- Test – 239 in the Third Ashes Test against England in Perth in December 2017.
- ODI – 164 against New Zealand in an ODI which was the highest score at the time at the SCG in December 2016.
- T20I – 90 from 53 deliveries in a T20 against England in Cardiff in August 2015.
Joe Root (Records)
- Most fifties in consecutive Test matches (12).
- Most catches in an ODI series (13).
Joe Root’s Most Memorable Performances:
- Test – 218 vs India in the first match in Chennai in February 2021.
- ODI – 113 not out vs India at Lord’s during the second match of a series in July 2018.
- T20I - 90 unbeaten knock vs Australia in Melbourne in January 2018.
Kane Williamson (Records)
Kane Williamson of New Zealand//Getty Images
- 2nd on the list for highest partnership for sixth wicket – 365*
Kane Williamson’s Most Memorable Performances:
- Test – 251 scored from 412 deliveries which include two Sixes against the West Indies in December 2020.
- ODI – 118 scored against England in Southampton in June 2015.
- T20I – 95 in a third T20 game against India in January 2020.
Critics and Public Perception
As you might expect, the ‘Fab Four’ have come under scrutiny and been subject to criticism over their performances.
This has been the case with some in the autumn of their years. For example, Kohli, who is arguably been the brightest star, with some critics suggesting he is nearing the end of his career.
Meanwhile, the likes of Smith and Williamson seem to be raging against the dying light, and they have surpassed expectations.
In terms of public perception, Smith has come under the microscope, particularly over the ball-tampering scandal as touched upon earlier, and it has affected his reputation.
Williamson is perhaps the least famous of the ‘Big Four’, whereas Kohli and Root both have strong followings on social media. Indeed, Kohli has over 260 million Instagram followers, and he thrives in the limelight.
FAQs
Fab 4 is a term used to describe four of the finest batsmen of their era, and it was a phrase first coined by former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe.
In terms of Test centuries, Steve Smith and Joe Root have both notched up 36 centuries, which is more than Virat Kohli (31) and Kane Williamson (33).
Conclusion
Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson merit their ‘Fab 4’ status, and they are among the best batsmen of their generation.
Test cricket is still the gold standard of the game, and if we’re judging it solely on that, then Root is the best of the ‘Fab 4’ seeing as he’s scored more than 12,000 runs.
Kohli, however, is arguably the most complete player of his generation in terms of how he handled all formats of the game extremely well. Nevertheless, all four players have carried cricket forward, keeping fans enthralled and popularised cricket around the world. That, surely, must count for something.
References
- 1
Martin Crowe using the phrase ‘Fab Four’ in an opinion piece – Former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe coining the ‘Fab Four’ tag: https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/martin-crowe-test-cricket-s-young-fab-four-774705 Accessed March 4. 2025
- 2
Steve Smith implicated in ball-tampering scandal – The story behind Australia’s Steve Smith and the ball-tampering furore in a Test match against South Africa: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/11588710/story-of-the-australian-ball-tampering-scandal-sandpaper-sackings-and-the-future Accessed March 5. 2025
- 3
Joe Root stands down as England Test captain – The stats behind Joe Root’s spell as England Test skipper: https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/2575747/joe-root-steps-down-as-england-mens-test-captain Accessed March 5. 2025
- 4
Fab Four criticism mounts – Virat Kohli and others come under the microscope for their performances: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2024/dec/16/familiar-problem-surfaces-with-virat-kohli-closest-of-fading-fab-four-to-the-end Accessed March 5. 2025
Charles Perrin is a highly experienced sports betting content writer with over six years of working with some of the leading sportsbooks in the UK, including bet365 and William Hill.