An exploration of the enduring impact and changing roles of cricket's legendary quartet: Steve Smith, Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root. Their journey from captaincy to elder statesmen, their enduring influence on the sport, and their recent performances in international matches are examined.
Virat Kohli walks off the field after being dismissed by Josh Hazlewood on day three of the third Test at the Gabba.little over a decade ago, cricket writing became all about the Fab Four . Steve Smith, Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Joe Root , each starting to flourish as Test batters, each clearly the future for their respective national teams.
We said they would all go on to captain their countries, and they did, as they kept racking up the hundreds, piling up runs, a kind of transnational pact in relentless quality. Always playing against one another, they were nevertheless joined in their own smaller team, urging one another on, opponents to mediocrity.These days none is captain any more, with a range of endings to their tenures that span civility to acrimony to scandal. They are all still playing though, elder statesmen in teams that enjoy their presence. Each of them is still the biggest name, the one greeted by most applause when walking to the middle and prompting most excitement from opponents sending them back. None is the team’s best player any longer, but their reputations make it feel as though they are. In the last fortnight, they have been acting out what may well be their final four-handed piece of cricketing choreography across two national contests. New Zealand hosting England over one side of the Tasman, Australia hosting India on the other. On Sunday, Smith produced a century made of rage against dying light. The next day he was joined on 33 career centuries by Williamson, a player who hasn’t had the same trouble with slumping scores or technique, but has battled physical decline with an increasing array of injuries. Joe Root, who a couple of years ago was drifting behind the others and in danger of having his membership revoked, has made six tons this year and streaked to the lead with 3
CRICKET FAB FOUR STEVE SMITH VIRAT KOHLI KANE WILLIAMSON JOE ROOT TEST MATCHES LEGACY SPORTS
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