When cricket historians look back at the early 21st century, the rivalry between Joe Root and Steve Smith will stand tall as one of the defining narratives of the sport. Both right-handed batting maestros, born just a year apart, have carried the torch of Test cricket through a period dominated by aggressive batting and T20 innovation. Root and Smith symbolize classical technique, unwavering discipline, and unmatched consistency — making comparisons inevitable and endlessly fascinating.
This article dives deep into career stats, batting styles, leadership influence, performances in big moments, and what truly separates Joe Root from Steve Smith.
Career Overview: Parallel Journeys to Greatness
Category | Joe Root | Steve Smith |
Country | England | Australia |
Format Debut (Test) | 2012 vs India | 2010 vs Pakistan |
Primary Role | Top-order Batter | Middle-order Batter |
Bowling | Part-time off-spin | Leg-spin (occasional) |
Captaincy Tenure | 2017–2022 | 2015–2018 |
Both players began their Test careers as promising young talents, but what followed was a decade of dominance. Smith surged with Bradman-like numbers, while Root evolved into England’s greatest-ever run-scorer across formats.
Batting Technique: Contrasting Styles, Same Output
Joe Root: The Technical Purist
Classical English technique with impeccable balance
Exceptional against spin — uses the sweep and reverse sweep as key scoring tools
Relies on timing, placement, and rotation of strike
Elegant strokemaker known for long, grinding innings in tough conditions
Root’s batting is aesthetically pleasing, almost poetic in rhythm, making him one of the most watchable batters in world cricket.
Steve Smith: The Unorthodox Genius
Unique trigger movement across the crease
Immense hand-eye coordination
Thrives against pace with his back-foot dominance
Extraordinary mental toughness and concentration
Despite being unorthodox, Smith’s method has produced some of the greatest numbers Test cricket has ever seen — proving that technique is a tool, not a rule.
Statistical Comparison in Test Cricket
Batting Average
Steve Smith: Averages around 56.0 — the second best for any modern batter with 10,000+ Test runs.
Joe Root: Averages around 51 — consistently excellent across all conditions.
Centuries
Smith scores centuries in clusters, particularly dominating England in Ashes contests.
Root accumulates runs more steadily, with several marathon innings since 2020 reflecting his peak years.
Ashes Performances
Smith: The most dominant Ashes batter of the modern era. His 2019 performance (774 runs in 4 matches) is legendary.
Root: Has had mixed Ashes success, playing crucial knocks but not matching Smith’s overwhelming output.
Impact as Captains
Joe Root (England)
Holds the record for most Test wins by an England captain.
Carried the batting load during England’s transitional phase.
Struggled with team consistency but thrived individually.
Steve Smith (Australia)
Highly successful captain before the ball-tampering scandal in 2018.
His tactical mind is widely respected.
Returned as vice-captain and remains a key leader in the dressing room.
Both captains handled immense pressure differently, but both left lasting leadership legacies.
Performance Across Conditions
Condition | Joe Root | Steve Smith |
Swinging English pitches | Excellent | Struggles early but adapts |
Fast Australian tracks | Decent | Outstanding |
Subcontinent turning tracks | Masterful | Surprisingly efficient |
Seaming South African wickets | Solid | Strong |
Root’s technique against spin gives him an edge in Asia, while Smith’s dominance against pace puts him ahead in Australia.
White-Ball Comparison
Joe Root is more successful in ODIs and T20Is, known for anchoring England’s dynamic limited-overs setup.
Steve Smith is solid in ODIs but has a more modest T20 profile.
In limited overs, Root is comfortably ahead.
The Mental Game
Both players thrive on:
Incredible discipline
Hunger for big scores
Ability to play long innings
Adapting to pressure situations
However, Smith’s concentration levels and ability to bat for hours without error give him a slight mental edge.
Who Is Better: Root or Smith?
The honest answer: It depends on the format and conditions.
Steve Smith is superior in:
Test match dominance
Batting average
Ashes performances
Impact innings under pressure
Joe Root is superior in:
All-format consistency
Technique against spin
Elegance and stroke-making
Contributions as a long-term leader
Overall Verdict
If Test cricket is the sole judge, Steve Smith edges ahead due to his phenomenal numbers.
But when considering all-format value, longevity, and adaptability, Joe Root stands just as tall.
Together, they represent the gold standard of modern batting.
Conclusion: A Rivalry That Defines an Era
The debate of Joe Root vs Steve Smith isn’t just about numbers — it’s about two contrasting batting philosophies pushing each other to greatness. They are modern cricket’s most important Test batters, and their rivalry has added richness and narrative depth to the sport.
As both continue to play, fans can expect more milestones, more masterclass innings, and more arguments over who truly is the best. And that is the beauty of the Root–Smith era.
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