Is Joe Root the best English batsman of the modern era?

[Diffusion]

By modern era I mean those who played beyond the 70s. Obviously the stats back the likes of Hobbs and Sutcliffe in the all time debate, but nobody here has actually seen them player.

He's in my opinion the best I've ever seen for England. He's the full package - he's got flair, consistency, can score quick and he can also dig deep when he has to. That's also coupled with a growing appetite of big scores.

This isn't something I've ever seen in an English batsman before. The other good ones like Cook or Boycott always have something missing (the entertainment/flair factor).

KP also had the full package, but has he overtaken him yet?

 

[Rana]

Awesome batsman

 

[Mamoon]

Yes, he is better than Pietersen.

Impactful yet consistent.

 

[Executioner]

Quality in all formats, even T20s.

Would walk into any team in the world easily

 

[Ab Fan]

Root has two 200s already. He is no more a potential World Class. He has hit the league of WC batsmen and should become the best English batsmen of modern era.

Root> Pietersen>Cook> Boycott/ Gough.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

They haven't produced a better bat unless you count those ancient cricketers.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Yes.

Magical player.

 

[James]

IMO he has not surpassed Pietersen yet because Pietersen scored big runs against ATG bowlers like McGrath, Warne, Murali and Steyn. But it will not be long before the sheer volume of Root's runs across all formats mark him out as the top dog. Pietersen, Cook and Root are the three England batsmen in the modern era who would have a shot at getting into an all-time England XI.

 

[Cricketrenew]

Pieterson better but root will surpass him very soon as being the best shame pieterson is banned

 

[blue_champion]

Yes......Also add to the fact that Root was produced by homegrown cricketing system and not a product of South African cricket like Pietersen.

Even though has a while to catch up to KP

 

[#GreenRoars]

English? He is currently best player over all in Test format.

 

[Red Devil]

English? He is currently best player over all in Test format.

Yep, better than Kohli, Smith and Kane imo.

 

[Convict]

Need to succeed in Australia first

 

[blue_champion]

Need to succeed in Australia first

Yes Australia seems to be a benchmark....just like a man who was called MR.Cricket who was beastly in Australia but pretty much a dud everywhere else in Tests

 

[Convict]

Yes Australia seems to be a benchmark....just like a man who was called MR.Cricket who was beastly in Australia but pretty much a dud everywhere else in Tests

Hussey was Australian.

Root is English and no English batsmen will be rated if he doesn't score in Australia.

Likewise an Australian batsman needs to score in England

 

[Hasan123]

Need to succeed in Australia first

He will.

 

[Hasan123]

A magnificent batsmen. Excited to see the development of Root,Williamson,Smith, and Kohli. Root and Kohli could go down as the greatest batsmen produced by there respective countries

 

[Ab Fan]

A magnificent batsmen. Excited to see the development of Root,Williamson,Smith, and Kohli. Root and Kohli could go down as the greatest batsmen produced by there respective countries

It will take something for him to surpass Tendulkar as a test batsmen or just even a batsmen across all formats.

Root will also find it tough to pass Hobbs, Hammond and Hutton although those were from generations back.

 

[nighthawk23]

Will he play as many tests as Cook at this pace? If so, then yes. Otherwise it is Cook for me.

 

[Hasan123]

It will take something for him to surpass Tendulkar as a test batsmen or just even a batsmen across all formats.

Root will also find it tough to pass Hobbs, Hammond and Hutton although those were from generations back.

Kohli can surpass Sachin in LO tests will be much difficult.

Won't be easy but these guys have the potential to do it. They will finish as atgs without a doubt

 

[Mamoon]

They haven't produced a better bat unless you count those ancient cricketers.

Didn't you call him overrated some time ago and said he will fail in South Africa or is my memory failing me.

Not interested but I'm curious to know because you generally take pride in not changing your opinion. Would like to know why you changed your opinion on Root, if at all.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

He is a dream batsman. Since his debut he has been an excellent and consistent performer. IMHO an ATG by all standards.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Didn't you call him overrated some time ago and said he will fail in South Africa or is my memory failing me.

Not interested but I'm curious to know because you generally take pride in not changing your opinion. Would like to know why you changed your opinion on Root, if at all.

Post 171, his thread.

I said he would fail if they targeted his rib cage like because he's a very instinctive puller and is quite often late on the ball.

 

[Mamoon]

Post 171, his thread.

I said he would fail if they targeted his rib cage like because he's a very instinctive puller and is quite often late on the ball.

He has pulled well in this game.

 

[Diffusion]

Will he play as many tests as Cook at this pace? If so, then yes. Otherwise it is Cook for me.

Cook's a freak. His general fitness is incredible, and he'll break Tendulkar's cap record.

Don't see Root playing as many. He's already had back issues, so I don't see too many beyond 100 caps for him.

 

[TestMatch]

Not to mention that Root's quite a useful bowler with a knack for taking down top batsmen.

He's also fiery and intense on the field. He seems to absolutely love cricket.

 

[samplepiece]

Second to Pietersen for the time-being.

 

[Robert]

Yes, Root is the best this century.

 

[blue_champion]

Yes, Root is the best this century.

Better than KP?

Root still needs to perform in India and Australia 2 countries where a player's performances are evaluated given the diversity of the pitches.

Right now Root is behind KP by a mile.unless you play the KP is a South African or you mean decade instead of century.

Also in tests there is Cook.

 

[aslaisnomasla]

currently the best one around, better then kohli aswell.

 

[blue_champion]

Well I have to take my statement back a bit.....still KP is ahead but not as much as I thought.....KP has only 4400 ODI runs? Root is already close to 3000 and he is still getting started...not as much of a gulf in one format as I thought

 

[Diffusion]

On ability I think Root is better than KP.

But Pietersen's impact is hard to quantify. It goes beyond his centuries, statistics, match winning innings. But he did a lot for the English game which was rotting and boring before he came on the scene. He made it fun and cool again, and that's not to be underestimated.

That straight 6 over McGrath's head at Lords, smashing Warne out of the park on multiple occasions and reverse sweeping Murali for 6 are pretty special memories for me.

 

[QalandarFan]

Amazing batsmen in all formats. Arguably the best in test format currently. England also hasn't produced a better batsmen other than a few old cricketers like Compton, Sir Hutton, Hammond, or Sir Hobbs. These batsmen have outstanding records but we haven't seen them bat. So he's probably the best batsman England have produced in about the last 60 years.

 

[Abdul]

Yes - unless you are able to name anyone else.

 

[Robert]

But Pietersen's impact is hard to quantify. It goes beyond his centuries, statistics, match winning innings. But he did a lot for the English game which was rotting and boring before he came on the scene. He made it fun and cool again, and that's not to be underestimated.

Immediately before KP played tests, England beat WI 0-3 away, Kiwis 3-0 and WI 4-0 at home then SA 1-2 away. That's eleven wins and one loss in sixteen tests. He did add another dimension but to a side which was already very good.

 

[zoro]

By modern era I mean those who played beyond the 70s. Obviously the stats back the likes of Hobbs and Sutcliffe in the all time debate, but nobody here has actually seen them player.

He's in my opinion the best I've ever seen for England. He's the full package - he's got flair, consistency, can score quick and he can also dig deep when he has to. That's also coupled with a growing appetite of big scores.

This isn't something I've ever seen in an English batsman before. The other good ones like Cook or Boycott always have something missing (the entertainment/flair factor).

KP also had the full package, but has he overtaken him yet?

I take it you have never seen graham gooch play.
The greatest english TEST bat ive ever seen!

 

[zoro]

Joeys good but his only 25 and a long way to go in his career. He may end up as one of the best english bats but lets not forget these guys:

Graham gooch, david gower, alec stewart, micheal atherton, graham thorpe, as well as the guys you mentioned boycott, cook and KP.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

KP of 2 Ashes,

KP of India,

KP of Odi series of SA &

KP of T20 World Cup


hasn't been surpassed Yet.


Cook of IND hasn't been surpassed Yet aswell.

 

[zoro]

KP of 2 Ashes,

KP of India,

KP of Odi series of SA &

KP of T20 World Cup


hasn't been surpassed Yet.


Cook of IND hasn't been surpassed Yet aswell.

If im not mistaken, in TESTS cook has surpassed KP's achievements.
Cook had a crazy ashes series in aus scoring centuries and double centurie etc and was the man of the series.
And this last ashes series in aus where england regained the ashes, cook did ok.
Cooks england have all the test series throphies against all top test playing nations currently except pak and it looks like they will have that one as well by the end of this series.

 

[Batman_DB]

i think KP is still ahead when it comes all round performance across all format!!! but root is getting there maybe year or 2 he will be the greatest ever English batsman

 

[Ab Fan]

72 tests, 13 hundreds. Not acceptable for a 50+ averaging batsmen.

We all knew he is no Smith or Kohli but will he end up being the best England bat from modern-era?

 

[James]

Currently it goes -

1. KP
2. Cook
3. Root

If Root ends up being in the top 3 only then that’s still an achievement, but he has the talent and hand-eye coordination to go all the way.

The question is - does he have the mental strength? That is what separates him from KP and Cook at the moment, neither of whom had the natural flair of Root but everyone agreed that they were hard as nails out in the middle - and I’m not sure that Root ever will be that.

 

[shortbread]

I know he doesn't have the track record to show for it but I think Buttler is as good as KP. I definitely think he's better than Root as well. Granted that 100 had a few drop by the opposition, but in terms of sheer skill Buttler is perhaps on the same level as KP or ABDV.

If he clicks and becomes consistent then the opposition will have a very hard time.

 

[Last Monetarist]

Given that the question being asked is whether Root is the best player to have played for England since the 1970s, the answer is demonstrably no. A couple of years ago, he was well on his way to becoming one of the best English batsmen of all time, but his progress has stalled since being named captain. One fears that he doesn't have the right temperament for leading the side and it is having a horrible effect on his batting. Au contraire, in limited overs matches he is still playing in the liberated manner of old, as evidenced by his form against India in July.

For me the top ten players since the 70s are as follows:

1. Pietersen
2. Gower
3. Boycott
4. Gooch
5. Stewart
6. Root
7. Cook
8. Thorpe
9. Smith
10. Amiss

 

[Gabbar Singh]

It’s unfair to judge a player who is in the middle of his career to players who have already finished, he hasn’t even been playing test cricket for more than 6 years. Root may finish off as the best English batsman of this era but he isn’t at the moment.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Impact wise, I highly doubt KP would ever be surpassed as a batter in English Cricket.
Root is highly consistent and most likely will end up being the best and most complete English batter of the modern era. All he needs to do is to work on his conversion rate.

 

[giri26]

I think KP is still the best. The way he batted and decimated bowling attacks was legendary.

 

[James]

KP was always rated as world class in his playing career, but his stock seems to have risen even further than that since he retired. Everyone is starting to realise how much he carried the team.

In my opinion he was only producing monstrous ATG-level form between mid 2005 and early 2009, with psychological demons and media obsessions bringing him down a peg after that, to the point where his big innings were less frequent and he made more of your “special guest appearances” instead - but oh what a batsman he was, and how England could do with any version of him right now.

 

[Ab Fan]

Among his contemporaries, I still believe KP was the best test batsmen from his era although overall, ABD has superiority due to ODI exploits.

The swagger KP possessed is unmatchable by anyone except Viv. When in zone, he can score against anyone, anywhere and score big as well.

The inning that AB played in Port Elizabeth vs Australia this year is a kind of inning KP used to play every now and then which is why there are around 7-8 ATG innings I could recall from him over his career. His impact goes beyond runs, averages and other statistics.

Root, on other hand, is quite opposite to KP. The most consistent out there but struggles to change or have a say on the course of the game. That series vs Australia in '15 was a great great one but he needs to do a lot more away from home.

His averages in Australia,New Zealand, India and Pakistan(UAE) look good but he has hardly done anything significant there.