Virat Kohli and Steve Smith are undoubtedly the two best batsmen of this generation. Kohli is presently the number 1 batsman in ODI cricket. Whereas Smith is at the top when it comes to Test match ranking. Aaron Finch recently spoke in-depth about the two great batsmen. Finch who has played a lot of cricket with and against Kohli and Smith picked the better batsmen between them.
Finch stated that Smith has an edge over Virat when it comes to Test cricket. He lauded the India captain for overcoming his weakness against James Anderson in England. But he feels Smith has been more consistent all over the world as compared to Kohli when it comes to red-ball cricket.
Virat Kohli or Steve Smith? Aaron Finch reveals picks
Interestingly Kohli averages 68.42 at home but his away average falls to 44.36. On the other hand, Smith has mastered almost every condition in his Test career. He has a staggering overall average of 62.84 in Tests and his away average is almost at par. Smith averages 57.10 away from home which makes him the best Test batsman in the world.
“In Test cricket, what is unbelievable about them is their records both at home and away. Virat had a tough series in England last time with Jimmy Anderson but he came back and dominated. Smith has never really struggled anywhere to be fair. He is an unbelievable Test player. The thing that puts them above all is how dominant they are all around the world. There is one thing to play in your own country but to it everywhere is extraordinary”.
“Sometimes they get out early, but that’s just part of the game but they do not miss out too many times in a row. When they get in they go big. I think Smith has an edge in Test cricket. Steve in Test cricket is unbelievable”, Finch told Sports Tak.
Kohli is extraordinary in ODIs
However, talking about ODIs Finch believes that Kohli will finish his career as the best ODI batsman of all time. The Australia ODI skipper praised Kohli’s extraordinary record while chasing big targets. Kohli averages over 50 in all three formats whereas Smith averages above 50 only in Test cricket. Finch said that Kohli has an edge over Smith in white-ball cricket as he has played more cricket.
“By the time Virat Kohli finishes his career, he will be the best one-day player of all time, if he is not already. Playing against him is difficult but at times it is also beautiful to watch. It is like playing against anyone who is best of the best, regardless of whether it is Virat or Rohit or Kane Williamson or Warner”.
“Sachin Tendulkar got more hundreds and more runs but the way Virat constructs run chases and the number of hundreds he has got in winning run chases is extra-ordinary. So, T20, Virat probably has the edge over Steve Smith and it is just because he has played a bit more cricket”, Finch concluded.
