Joe Root, Kane Williamson, Steven Smith, and the recently retired Virat Kohli are widely regarded as the “Fab Four of Test cricket.” This title is a testament to their incredible records and their consistent match-winning capabilities in the longest format of the game.
In this article, we will provide a comprehensive breakdown of how they have fared in Test cricket since the beginning of this decade, comparing their performances head-to-head.
Fab Four Test Stats (2020-2025)
| Player | Innings | Runs | Average | 100s/50s | High Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Root (ENG) | 124 | 6184 | 55.21 | 22/21 | 262 |
| Steven Smith (AUS) | 82 | 3313 | 45.38 | 10/15 | 200* |
| Kane Williamson (NZ) | 49 | 2897 | 64.37 | 12/6 | 251 |
| Virat Kohli (IND) | 69 | 2028 | 30.72 | 3/9 | 186 |
The Fab Four: A Statistical Breakdown (2020-2025)
England’s Joe Root not only leads the Fab Four in terms of runs scored in Tests since 2020, but he is also the overall leading run-getter in this period. The next best is his teammate Ollie Pope, who has made 3,416 runs in 100 innings.
The former England skipper also leads the century charts by a long way. Root has amassed 21 tons, and the next best is Williamson, who has accumulated 12 Test centuries since 2020.
Discover All “Since 2020” Cricket Records
Most Runs in Test Cricket Since 2020
Most Runs in ODI Cricket Since 2020
Most Runs in T20I Cricket Since 2020
Most Runs in All Formats Combined Since 2020
Most Wickets in Test Cricket Since 2020
Most Wickets in ODI Cricket Since 2020
Most Wickets in T20I Cricket Since 2020
Most Wickets in All Formats Combined Since 2020
Virat Kohli, who made 4,848 runs in the preceding five years (2015-2019) at an average of 62.15, with 18 centuries, was a pale shadow of himself in this cycle. The former skipper made just 2,028 runs at a dismal average of just above 30. His indifferent form was the reason his career average dropped below 50.
Although Root has more runs, it is Williamson who has the best average in Tests since 2020. In fact, the veteran’s average is the highest among batters who have scored 2,000 runs in the period.
Barring Kohli, the rest have scored at least one double century. Root’s 262 against Pakistan stands as the highest score. Williamson leads the way for four Test double centuries in the period, followed by Root, who has three.
