Why Steve Smith is the Best Batsman in the Modern Day Test cricket?  

Having been out of the side for a year owing to his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal, Australian cricketer, Steven Smith has returned to top of the table in ICC Tests rankings, owing to his outstanding performances in the ongoing Ashes series. 

After enjoying a decent-run in the recently concluded World Cup, the former Australian skipper announced himself in his favourite format in the most blistering fashion, hitting as many as 3 centuries in four innings. 

On the fourth day of the second Ashes test, Smith was hit on his neck by Jofra Archer’s nasty delivery, which led to him being ruled out of the third test.

A lot of questions surrounded the minds of nitizens post the incident. Whether he would be the same batsman that he was a Test match before? Whether he would be able to make the same impact in Test Cricket as before? How would he face Archer in the fourth test? 

The Australian batsman has answered every single question in the most blistering way, producing a phenomenal double-hundred in the first innings of the fourth test match against England. The Australian cricketer played one of the finest Test match innings of his career, helping his team reach a daunting 497 run-total in the first innings. 

Steve Smith Scores In Ashes 2019:
First Test: 144, 142
Second Test: 92, Dnb
Fourth Test: 211, –

Steven Smith, today, has become a force to reckon with in Test cricket, and the stats would confirm that he is, in fact, the best batsman in modern-day Test cricket. 

Amongst the top-four in world cricket, Joe Root and Virat Kohli have more runs in Test cricket than Steve Smith, however, not to forget the Australian cricketer has played fewer test matches than Root and Virat. 

A Look at Test Career of Best-Four in Modern Day Cricket:

Jor Root: 
Matches: 84
Runs: 6894
Average: 48.2

Steve Smith: 
Matches: 66 
Runs: 6577
Avg: 63.2

Kane Williamson:
Matches: 74 
Runs: 6163
Average: 52.2

Virat Kohli: 
Matches: 79
Runs: 6749
Average: 53.1

In terms of the number of runs scored, English skipper, Joe Root has is ahead of the other three, however, it needs to be noticed that Steve Smith has played the least number of matches amongst them. The Australian cricketer averages 63.2 in Test matches which is way ahead of the other three. Virat Kohli has 6749 runs under his belt at an average of 53.1, while Kane Williamson has scored 6163 runs in 74 matches at an average of 52.2. 

What makes Smith the greatest Test batsman of this generation is the fact that the Australian cricketer has not only the best average at home but also overseas as well. Smith averages close to 77 at home, while he scored runs at an average of 47 outside home. Smith has the best away Test average given Kohli averages 47 and Williamson and Root touching 43. 

Steve Smith currently has second-best average in Test Cricket in the history of the game and given that he has the equal number of centuries and half-centuries (25,25) in the longer format of the game tell you the dominance he has created in the longer format of the game. 

Even if Steve Smith gets out for a duck in his next 30 innings, his average in Test cricket would still remain above 50.

As far the records across formats are concerned, Steve Smith has still a long road to cover to reach at the top; however, the Australian cricketer has unarguably asserted an ultimate supremacy in the toughest format of the game.