Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root comparison thread

[Chief Destroyer]

Bairstow has had a meteoric rise in the last two years averaging 50 at a SR of 60 batting at 6-7 as a wicket-keeper. This century I believe is a career changing one. Not only has he announced himself on the biggest stage but he's making it very clear that he is in fact, not Root, the leader of this batting lineup.

Throughout this tour, Bairstow has looked the most composed out of every England batsman and has not been fazed by anything the Aussie bowlers have thrown at him.

Technically, Bairstow and Root are both very sound but the former is far superior against short-pitched deliveries and equally, if not more, effective on the front-foot with greater balance. They're both very good players of spin.

As far as their mental game goes, it is not a contest. Bairstow along with Stokes and Ali have saved England innumerable times from collapsing, Bairstow being the leader of the trio. He's had impact on impact. Against Pakistan, he was the wall that just could not be breached. He's shown his mental strength once again this tour.

Strokeplay: once again, Bairstow takes this comfortably being far more explosive with greater range. Self explanatory. Further elaboration is not necessary.

Bairstow is a world class batsman and has to bat in the top 4. If it was not obvious before, it is now. England is seriously limiting themselves by not playing him as a specialist. He's capable of doing what Root is not, lead the batting lineup from the front under pressure.

Obviously, moving from 7 to the top 4 is quite a big jump and it will take time to adjust. England should be prepared to give him time. Considering Bairstow's mental strength, I see him embracing the challenge and adjusting very quickly.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

I will definitely choose Bairstow in difficult conditions and tough situations.

Root like Kohli (not as much as Kohli though) has scored a lot of soft runs in tests.

Bairstow has to bat higher, he is wasted at 6/7. If he cant keep with batting at 4, give the gloves to buttler.

 

[Sachin136]

I can't think of a better batsman than Bairstow in swinging conditions.

 

[WengerOut]

What a hyperbole !!! I think being "Out of form " does not count in PP . Root has his flaws , but he is the best English batsman by some distance. Bairstow is good at best. Please don't bring in intangible things like Pressure , soft runs n all. Everyone can use that to bash the players they don't like without any solid base to the claim.

 

[Ab Fan]

Root is still England best batsmen but he is a massive softie.

Bairstow should have batted up and give up gloves because he is not good with that and his team doesn't have world class batters up the order bar Root.

 

[Ab Fan]

Its lame when posters say that they dont have time for softies like Amla and de Villiers but consider Root as their favourite cricketer.

 

[Aman]

Its lame when posters say that they dont have time for softies like Amla and de Villiers but consider Root as their favourite cricketer.

I hate 2 of the 3 and I've acknowledged the third is a choker.

 

[Ab Fan]

I hate 2 of the 3 and I've acknowledged the third is a choker.

You are free to hate whoever you want. 3rd is a choker only in odis.

 

[Buffet]

Jonny has 3 or 4 tons so far.

To be called the best batsman in Eng line up, he has to bat up and score more tons. Unless he plays higher up and scores big tons, it's simply a talk about potential to be the best.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

What a hyperbole !!! I think being "Out of form " does not count in PP . Root has his flaws , but he is the best English batsman by some distance. Bairstow is good at best. Please don't bring in intangible things like Pressure , soft runs n all. Everyone can use that to bash the players they don't like without any solid base to the claim.

What you're claiming is a hyperbole. "By some distance" is laughable. I can almost guarantee Australia fear Bairstow more than Root at this point. So much for best batsman.

 

[Sin Nombre]

Scoring a century on a flat pitch away from home can both be evidence of greatness (YJB) or used to bash someone for scoring soft runs (Root, Kohli) depending on PP's biases.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Jonny has 3 or 4 tons so far.

To be called the best batsman in Eng line up, he has to bat up and score more tons. Unless he plays higher up and scores big tons, it's simply a talk about potential to be the best.

Obviously statistically, Root is ahead simply because he bats higher up the order. But in terms of respect from the opposition, specifically speaking in this Ashes series, Bairstow has overtaken him.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Scoring a century on a flat pitch away from home can both be evidence of greatness (YJB) or used to bash someone for scoring soft runs (Root, Kohli) depending on PP's biases.

Bounce is as much a weapon as lateral movement and Root is quite vulnerable against it.

 

[Buffet]

Obviously statistically, Root is ahead simply because he bats higher up the order. But in terms of respect from the opposition, specifically speaking in this Ashes series, Bairstow has overtaken him.

Root not doing well in this series is one thing, but tag of the best batsman of Eng is another. Bairstow should be batting higher because he has skills to do it. Even if it means no keeping. Till he does that, we are mostly talking about potential. We don't know if he can play play big knocks consistently.

Having said that he has done fantastic in the last 2 years and I do see your point. I did think about him batting higher up one year back, but he has not done it so far. I guess he has to give up keeping.

 

[Buffet]

Scoring a century on a flat pitch away from home can both be evidence of greatness (YJB) or used to bash someone for scoring soft runs (Root, Kohli) depending on PP's biases.

Not too many visiting batsmen score big runs in Aus. It's flat, but has more bounce than most other flat pitches. Once you can adjust then it becomes very easy to score runs, but it's not easy for everyone. There is a reason that Aus batsmen pile up runs and visiting teams struggle to score.

Flip side is that Aus batsmen find it hard to score in flatter, but low bounce when they step outside of Aus. Not talking about any one specific, but a general trend.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Comparing Bairstow with Root is like comparing Dravid with Tendulkar.

Root is a complete batsman, though he's a softie.

 

[Buffet]

Comparing Bairstow with Root is like comparing Dravid with Tendulkar.

Root is a complete batsman, though he's a softie.

Complete batsman has 3 tons outside of home and Jonny has 2 tons outside of home despite batting so low. Temperament is a necessary component of any complete batsman.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Complete batsman has 3 tons outside of home and Jonny has 2 tons outside of home despite batting so low. Temperament is a necessary component of any complete batsman.

I was referring to natural ability. Root makes batting look so easy. Bairstow looks limited. I will agree that Bairstow is mentally tougher.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Root not doing well in this series is one thing, but tag of the best batsman of Eng is another. Bairstow should be batting higher because he has skills to do it. Even if it means no keeping. Till he does that, we are mostly talking about potential. We don't know if he can play play big knocks consistently.

Having said that he has done fantastic in the last 2 years and I do see your point. I did think about him batting higher up one year back, but he has not done it so far. I guess he has to give up keeping.

But it hasn't been just this series. He's been England's backbone down the order and has arguably had more impact than Root. Every time he's scored, he's put England ahead out of reach or brought them back in the game. This obviously I cannot show in statistics, one has to have watched the games.

The question whether Australia fear Root or Bairstow more at this point is a valid one. I believe the answer is very clear. Bairstow has looked a class apart from the rest. One cannot be the best batsman if he's no longer the most prized wicket on his team, statistics become irrelevant. At this point, that wicket is Bairstow. And I only see him going from strength to strength.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Comparing Bairstow with Root is like comparing Dravid with Tendulkar.

Root is a complete batsman, though he's a softie.

Elaborate?

It's the other way around from where I see it. Root has more weaknesses than Bairstow.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

The only thing that's stopping Bairstow from officially taking the title is to move up the order. He's got all bases covered as a batsman. England would be foolish to continue wasting his potential.

 

[Buffet]

But it hasn't been just this series. He's been England's backbone down the order and has arguably had more impact than Root. Every time he's scored, he's put England ahead out of reach or brought them back in the game. This obviously I cannot show in statistics, one has to have watched the games.

The question whether Australia fear Root or Bairstow more at this point is a valid one. I believe the answer is very clear. Bairstow has looked a class apart from the rest. One cannot be the best batsman if he's no longer the most prized wicket on his team, statistics become irrelevant. At this point, that wicket is Bairstow. And I only see him going from strength to strength.

I have seen Jonny scoring many times to save Eng so that's not an issue, but you have a lot less chance to influence games by batting so low.

Now root has failed to influence games when playing outside of Eng , but he has done it many times at home. I will fully agree that Jonny having potential, but I would want him to bat higher. In a hypothetical world, Ponting coming at 7 will be a lot less influence as compared to coming at 3. I will fear Ponting a lot more at 3 than at 7 because damage done by him at 3 will be too much.

 

[Buffet]

I was referring to natural ability. Root makes batting look so easy. Bairstow looks limited. I will agree that Bairstow is mentally tougher.

I am not too sure about it. I feel it's harder to bowl to Jonny. I can't say about everyone, but I will personally prefer to bowl to Root.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Elaborate?

It's the other way around from where I see it. Root has more weaknesses than Bairstow.

Anybody who has watched their batting will notice that Root has more natural ability. Root is a better player of spin and can accelerate better than Bairstow.

Bairstow can never play an inning in any format which Root played in WT20 against SA.

 

[The_Odd_One]

I am not too sure about it. I feel it's harder to bowl to Jonny. I can't say about everyone, but I will personally prefer to bowl to Root.

Because Bairstow is more stubborn. Root has a better range of shots.

 

[Buffet]

Because Bairstow is more stubborn. Root has a better range of shots.

Range is not an issue for Root, but he gives lots of chances.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Anybody who has watched their batting will notice that Root has more natural ability. Root is a better player of spin and can accelerate better than Bairstow.

Bairstow can never play an inning in any format which Root played in WT20 against SA.

No, I haven't noticed this at all. Bairstow has always been more explosive than Root. He's much stronger physically with superb hand-eye. Better player of spin? I don't think so. He was right there with Root and Ali in India.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Because Bairstow is more stubborn. Root has a better range of shots.

I don't think you've watched much of Bairstow.

 

[Buffet]

Root is a better player of spin and can accelerate better than Bairstow.

Honestly speaking, I wasn't impressed by Root's spin playing ability in BD, Ind and UAE despite him scoring some runs to maintain average. He gave too many chances in pretty much each 50 he scored.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Range is not an issue for Root, but he gives lots of chances.

Lara gave more chances than Dravid but that does not mean Lara was inferior to Dravid.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Honestly speaking, I wasn't impressed by Root's spin playing ability in BD, Ind and UAE despite him scoring some runs to maintain average. He gave too many chances in pretty much each 50 he scored.

Root has a conversion problem but I think it's more related to the mental aspect.

 

[The_Odd_One]

I don't think you've watched much of Bairstow.

You are free to form your own opinion. Mine is based on whatever I have watched so far.

 

[Ab Fan]

People are forgetting that Root is very very strong in home conditions.

His performance vs Australia at home was as good as it gets across a complete series.

He continued great performances against everyone at home.

He is a softie because its been too long since he hasn't done anything away from home except the hundred in SA.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

You are free to form your own opinion. Mine is based on whatever I have watched so far.

Alright but just know that Bairstow already has a higher SR than Root in ODIs despite limited chances.

 

[Buffet]

Lara gave more chances than Dravid but that does not mean Lara was inferior to Dravid.

I don't think comparison is a valid one here. Jonny scores pretty quickly.

I don't think that Root scores faster than Jonny. Lara was much faster than Dravid.

 

[WengerOut]

What you're claiming is a hyperbole. "By some distance" is laughable. I can almost guarantee Australia fear Bairstow more than Root at this point. So much for best batsman.

I can give examples of everything that Bairstow does, which Root also does and much more consistently. This is simply a case if recency memory u r having.

 

[WengerOut]

I don't think comparison is a valid one here. Jonny scores pretty quickly.

I don't think that Root scores faster than Jonny. Lara was much faster than Dravid.

Do you think Bairstow is better for England than Root ?

 

[Chief Destroyer]

I can give examples of everything that Bairstow does, which Root also does and much more consistently. This is simply a case if recency memory u r having.

Century in Australia with the Ashes on the line on the fastest pitch.

 

[WengerOut]

Century in Australia with the Ashes on the line on the fastest pitch.

I was talking generally. If we are into specifics , where is his century in India or Joburg , fastest pitch in SA ? And No , Perth is not the fastest in Australia. Also i believe Joe Root was the MOS for England in last Ashes.

 

[Buffet]

Do you think Bairstow is better for England than Root ?

I already said in this thread earlier that I don't consider Jonny to be better than Root right now and that's mostly due to him batting so low and I can't say for sure if Jonny will make big tons consistently. I do think that he has potential to be the best batsman for Eng. I have seen enough in him.

Jonny/Dravid vs Root/Lara example looked wrong to me because Jonny scores quickly.

I just went and checked his SR in both formats to ensure that my memory is not playing tricks here.

SR of Root in ODI - 87
SR of Jonny in ODI - 93

If anyone thinks that it's only due to him batting lower in ODI then,

SR of Root in Test - 56
SR of Jonny in test - 56

 

[Chief Destroyer]

I was talking generally. If we are into specifics , where is his century in India or Joburg , fastest pitch in SA ? And No , Perth is not the fastest in Australia. Also i believe Joe Root was the MOS for England in last Ashes.

Good, at least you realized how silly your claim is. And no, Root cannot play bodyline bowling like Bairstow can. He also cannot dominate an attack like Bairstow can. Root is one-dimensional. He scores at a good pace but that is his limit whereas Bairstow has many gears.

 

[WengerOut]

Good, at least you realized how silly your claim is. And no, Root cannot play bodyline bowling like Bairstow can. He also cannot dominate an attack like Bairstow can. Root is one-dimensional. He scores at a good pace but that is his limit whereas Bairstow has many gears.

Yes I admit Bairstow is the better batsman on Dec 14 and 15 , which is Thursday and Friday , at Perth.
You are starting to sound like a fan boy now. Unless you have anything to back your claims , it is you who are looking silly.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Yes I admit Bairstow is the better batsman on Dec 14 and 15 , which is Thursday and Friday , at Perth.
You are starting to sound like a fan boy now. Unless you have anything to back your claims , it is you who are looking silly.

Back what claims? I've already explained why I hold this opinion.

 

[WengerOut]

Back what claims? I've already explained why I hold this opinion.

All i could see was you posting your opinion without anything to validate. I can definitely remember , during one of his earliest series v SA that experts saying ( i watched it also )he is susceptible against Short pitch bowling. Obviously he is not in Raina territory. Also pretty rubbish as a top order.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

All i could see was you posting your opinion without anything to validate. I can definitely remember , during one of his earliest series v SA that experts saying ( i watched it also )he is susceptible against Short pitch bowling. Obviously he is not in Raina territory. Also pretty rubbish as a top order.

What opinion? That Root is vulnerable against bodyline bowling? Just watch him in Australia both tours. Need I say more? SA didn't do their homework. They bowled to his strength, offside square of the wicket. Root is a front foot oriented batsman and is quite fluid in this regard which makes him a great player of lateral movement. But because he's so side-on and cannot pull off the front foot, neither having any backward movement, he finds himself in no-man's land, the ideal place to get pinged on the helmet. He's an impulsive puller, never under control because he's never in position.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

People are forgetting that Root is very very strong in home conditions.

His performance vs Australia at home was as good as it gets across a complete series.

He continued great performances against everyone at home.

He is a softie because its been too long since he hasn't done anything away from home except the hundred in SA.

I should clarify that I still rate Root as a great batsman but Bairstow better.

 

[WengerOut]

What opinion? That Root is vulnerable against bodyline bowling? Just watch him in Australia both tours. Need I say more? SA didn't do their homework. They bowled to his strength, offside square of the wicket. Root is a front foot oriented batsman and is quite fluid in this regard which makes him a great player of lateral movement. But because he's so side-on and cannot pull off the front foot, neither having any backward movement, he finds himself in no-man's land, the ideal place to get pinged on the helmet. He's an impulsive puller, never under control because he's never in position.

What !!! My experience of watching Root tells me that he is a back foot player and therefore plays the cut and pull well. I am not sure about you saying he is a predominantly front foot. He and Cook hangs back on the back foot.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

What !!! My experience of watching Root tells me that he is a back foot player and therefore plays the cut and pull well. I am not sure about you saying he is a predominantly front foot. He and Cook hangs back on the back foot.

Cook, yes. Root, no. He starts off tall but then transitions into a long stride forward. He's good square off the wicket on the offside but vulnerable against bodyline bowling because the backfoot is stationary and he cannot pull off the front foot. There is no movement to get into position to pull.

Cook is different. He generally hangs back and moves across the stumps to get inside the line whereas Root is directly in line, neither here or there. He has no room to pull. However he does have room to cut because he takes legstump guard and is generally able to transition back into a taller position to cut offside.

 

[WengerOut]

Cook, yes. Root, no. He starts off tall but then transitions into a long stride forward. He's good square off the wicket on the offside but vulnerable against bodyline bowling because the backfoot is stationary and he cannot pull off the front foot. There is no movement to get into position to pull.

Cook is different. He generally hangs back and moves across the stumps to get inside the line whereas Root is directly in line, neither here or there. He has no room to pull. However he does have room to cut because he takes legstump guard and is generally able to transition back into a taller position to cut offside.

I am amicably disagreeing with you. Roots previous problem was well documented . He hangs back on the back foot and when the length is to drive, he is late into it. He has improved that although.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

I am amicably disagreeing with you. Roots previous problem was well documented . He hangs back on the back foot and when the length is to drive, he is late into it. He has improved that although.

Hanging back on the backfoot does not automatically position you to pull. To pull, you have to get inside the line and you cannot do that if your backfoot is stationary. Only front-foot pullers can do that which he's not. Root generally takes leg stump guard which worsens things, while it gives him more room to cut it further cramps him against bodyline bowling. Root is not a puller, that much is very clear.

 

[Hasan123]

Bairstow is wasted at number 7. He needs to bat up the order. As OP mentioned he's mentally strong , plays well in all conditions and versus all types of bowling.

I don't think he's a better batsmen than Root but him and Root usually bat well together and they bounce of each other. Hopefully England make the change soon for Bairstow to go up the order. This will really help them as batting unit.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Comfortably England's best batsman

 

[Robert]

One averages fifty in tests, the other forty.

Root is in a slump at present. Too early to say if captaincy is affecting his cricket, though with all the foolishness going on he will be in damage control mode instead of thinking about batting.

 

[Robert]

Good, at least you realized how silly your claim is. And no, Root cannot play bodyline bowling like Bairstow can. He also cannot dominate an attack like Bairstow can. Root is one-dimensional. He scores at a good pace but that is his limit whereas Bairstow has many gears.

There has been no Bodyline since the 1930s. It is banned.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

There has been no Bodyline since the 1930s. It is banned.

Not sure what you mean. Because that's all Johnson did last series and the Aussie quicks are doing the same this series.

 

[Robert]

Not sure what you mean. Because that's all Johnson did last series and the Aussie quicks are doing the same this series.

The Aussie quicks are pitching it up in the main, not overdoing the bouncers.

Bodyline was fast short stuff directed at the chest and head with six leg slips and two men back for the hook. It was outlawed.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

The Aussie quicks are pitching it up in the main, not overdoing the bouncers.

Bodyline was fast short stuff directed at the chest and head with six leg slips and two men back for the hook. It was outlawed.

Obviously, I didn't mean what you're referring to. Bodyline=targeting the head and ribcage when bowling short-pitched which they have done. Johnson did it even more so.

 

[Robert]

Obviously, I didn't mean what you're referring to. Bodyline=targeting the head and ribcage when bowling short-pitched which they have done. Johnson did it even more so.

Bodyline has a specific meaning in cricket, synonymous with fast leg-theory.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Bodyline has a specific meaning in cricket, synonymous with fast leg-theory.

Bodyline = targeting the body. Let's not drag this any further. I'm not interested.

 

[Princejain191]

Bairstow was their best in the 7 matches in subcontinent last year and was quite decent in SA too. I would take Bairstow in my XI over Root right now. But I think if Root can get that conversion thing right, he can be a beast. Overall, Root is ahead of Bairstow given how consistent he has been for a good 4 years. Also, he was man of the series in Ashes at home and that counts too.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Bairstow continues to show why he's superior. Just has so many layers to his game that Root doesn't.

 

[Ab Fan]

He can surpass Root in odis because he is more aggressive and opens the inning but he will never surpass Joe Root in test cricket.

 

[introvert]

No, Jonny is second best.
On his day he is capable of outshining every other batsmen of England team very similar to how rohit sharma on his day outshines other indian batsmen.

 

[WengerOut]

I dunno what is the need for bumping this thread whenever Bairstow scores. From the last time when this thread was active and now when it is bumped , Root has been consistently scoring runs. Just when Bairstow hits form , he is somehow the best. Ridiculous.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

I dunno what is the need for bumping this thread whenever Bairstow scores. From the last time when this thread was active and now when it is bumped , Root has been consistently scoring runs. Just when Bairstow hits form , he is somehow the best. Ridiculous.

To highlight the difference in strike rate which was brought up in this thread.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

No, Jonny is second best.
On his day he is capable of outshining every other batsmen of England team very similar to how rohit sharma on his day outshines other indian batsmen.

Terrible comparison. Comparing an FTB to a proper batsman.

 

[WengerOut]

Terrible comparison. Comparing an FTB to a proper batsman.

As if Bairstow scored on a green track. And the ground size is 100 m

 

[James]

Can’t believe his batting average is so low to be honest (39). He looks a much better player than that.

 

[Ab Fan]

Very good batsmen but still not comparable to Root.

Root has series defining performances vs Aus, SA, Pak and India in the home season. His hundred in South Africa in swinging conditions was a high quality knock.

This is a brilliant inning by Bairstow though.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Can’t believe his batting average is so low to be honest (39). He looks a much better player than that.

50 over the last two years and only improving. It's beyond me why he's still at 6-7.

 

[Aman]

Very good batsmen but still not comparable to Root.

Root has series defining performances vs Aus, SA, Pak and India in the home season. His hundred in South Africa in swinging conditions was a high quality knock.

This is a brilliant inning by Bairstow though.

LMAO wasn't that the same Test Stokes blitzed a double?

 

[WengerOut]

50 over the last two years and only improving. It's beyond me why he's still at 6-7.

45 over last 2 years. 35 for the last year.

 

[introvert]

LMAO wasn't that the same Test Stokes blitzed a double?

No stokes double was on flat track, root scored 110 in third test where England bowlers destroyed RSA on 83 with broad thaking 17-6.

 

[introvert]

Root is still England's best test batsman and bairstow second best.
But in one day cricket bairstow is moving ahead rapidly and outshining joe root in his last couple of innings.

 

[Ab Fan]

LMAO wasn't that the same Test Stokes blitzed a double?

I was talking of Root. His hundred at Wanderers in third test (decider) was a high quality inning in swinging conditions.

It was actually Bairstow who played second fiddle to Stokes and scored 170 on a flat wicket in second test at Cape Town.

Ofcourse, Root is still a let down away from home. This was his second tour to Australia as well as New Zealand.

 

[Robert]

Can’t believe his batting average is so low to be honest (39). He looks a much better player than that.

Too low in the order to build long innings.

Push him up to #5, take the gloves off him and watch him go.

 

[soso_killer]

Root is the most talented player I've seen after AB.
Problem with such players is they don't cash in as the lesser blokes. It's going to take some doing for Bairstow to be anywhere near Root.

Not many players can play swinging conditions these days. Root is one of them, class player of spin too. Needs to work on his mental side of the game and he'll be fine. It took AB 14 years to shape games for his country, Root has done quite a bit of that already. I see no reason why he can't end his career as the best bat post 2010, by some distance too.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Very good batsmen but still not comparable to Root.

Root has series defining performances vs Aus, SA, Pak and India in the home season. His hundred in South Africa in swinging conditions was a high quality knock.

This is a brilliant inning by Bairstow though.

Not comparable because he's much better.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Root is the most talented player I've seen after AB.
Problem with such players is they don't cash in as the lesser blokes. It's going to take some doing for Bairstow to be anywhere near Root.

Not many players can play swinging conditions these days. Root is one of them, class player of spin too. Needs to work on his mental side of the game and he'll be fine. It took AB 14 years to shape games for his country, Root has done quite a bit of that already. I see no reason why he can't end his career as the best bat post 2010, by some distance too.

Finally started rating AB?

 

[soso_killer]

Finally started rating AB?

I said talent, in terms of natural talent he reminds me of AB.
But Smith is mentally tougher and shapes more games for his country than Root. But Root is definitely more talented imo. Talent can be wasted though. It's like Amla vs AB, Amla has shaped more games for SA than AB ever will. So who is a better bat? I choose the guy that wins matches for his country.

AB is on a road to redemption though. He needs to do what he's doing for the next two/three years then we'll talk. One swallow doesn't make a summer.