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

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

It is no secret that Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli has long been regarded as the best batsman across all formats but Kane Williamson, who is currently in India, has pointed out a surprising change in recent times.

Kane Williamson praises Fab Four rivals and calls Joe Root ‘phenomenal’ in Tests

While Virat Kohli’s performance in Test cricket has slightly declined in recent years, England’s Joe Root has reached extraordinary heights in the traditional format of the game.

Root’s astonishing numbers since 2021 tell the tale: 4,567 runs in just 49 Tests, including a staggering 17 centuries, soaring to the top of the ICC Test rankings with 922 rating points.

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

The former New Zealand captain acknowledged Virat Kohli’s brilliance across 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 big fan of the former England captain, highlighting Root’s consistency and technical brilliance that has left fans and critics alike 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 praised Australian Smith for his unconventional style but unrivalled stamina. He has also been astonishing on the Test field, completing the modern era Fab Four in Testing.

Joe Root’s phenomenal rise in Test cricket earned him praise from Kane Williamson amid Fab Four rivalry

Kane Williamson had this to say in the Hindustan Times: “You mentioned Joe Root. He’s been something different for a long time. There’s a lot of focus on what he could achieve in a few years, and it’s amazing that he can do that conversion.

“It’s been phenomenal. I’m a big fan of him. Not just him, but the other guys (Virat Kohli and Steven Smith) as well. It’s amazing how they’ve moved the game forward in such a big way.”

New Zealand will play a Test match against Afghanistan in Greater Noida, Delhi, starting on September 9, and then 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 the challenges that lie ahead.

Williamson concluded by saying, “I mean, we’re going to be challenged in a number of ways. But the opportunity to have a block here for us as a team to have the kind of experiences we’re going to have over the next two and a half months and be better for it.

“It’s an exciting opportunity. It’s a pleasure to be here, preparing for the first test. We want to take those small steps and try to get familiar with those conditions.”