ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: ‘One Last Dance’ For International Cricket’s ‘Fab Four’

The 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup in India is lower than a month away and can characteristic among the cricket’s easiest gamers and groups. This match is ready to carry numerous significance in bigger cricket historical past, as the fashionable day ‘Fab Four’, consisting of batting greats – Virat Kohli (India), Steve Smith (Australia), Joe Root (England) and Kane Williamson (New Zealand) may have their ‘One Last Dance’ collectively.

This match could possibly be the ultimate time that these 4 legends play an ICC Cricket World Cup or matter of reality, any main ICC match collectively. Ever for the reason that New Zealand legend Martin Crowe coined the time period ‘Fab Four’ to place all these stars in a gaggle, they’ve achieved so much within the sport. All of those gamers have a big quantity of runs and a number of information to their title.

But with Virat about to show 35 in November, Steve aged 34, Root about to show 33 in December and Williamson presently aged 33, they aren’t getting any youthful. By the time the subsequent 50-over World Cup is available in 2027, they are going to be of their late 30s. There is an enormous likelihood that they might not be round within the white-ball set-up throughout that point collectively directly.

Ahead of the WC, allow us to have discover these legends, in numbers:

Virat Kohli

Virat is undoubtedly the perfect all-format batter of all 4. In 279 ODIs, he has scored 13,027 runs at a mean of 57.38. He has scored 47 centuries and 65 half-centuries within the format, with the perfect rating of 183. He is the second-highest run-scorer for India in ODIs subsequent to Sachin Tendulkar (18,426 runs) and in fifth place.

The dashing Indian top-order batter has represented India in 26 World Cup matches since 2011, having scored 1,030 runs at a mean of 46.81. He has smashed two centuries and 6 fifties in 26 matches, with the perfect rating of 107. He is India’s second-highest run-scorer in WC historical past, subsequent to Sachin Tendulkar (2,278 runs) and total at seventeenth spot. He lifted the 2011 WC with India.

During this World Cup, he can be extraordinarily eager to enhance his document within the knockout phases after poor outings within the 2015 and 2019 semifinals, by which he registered single-digit scores.

The 2019 World Cup was the perfect for Virat statistically. In 9 matches, he scored 443 runs at a mean of 55.38, with 5 half-centuries to his title and a greatest rating of 82. Virat was the Tenth-highest run-scorer within the match and the second-highest scorer for India.

This 12 months, Virat has been in stable kind throughout all codecs. In 14 ODIs and 12 innings this 12 months, Virat has smashed 556 runs at a mean of 55.60, with three centuries and one fifty and a greatest rating of 166*.

Steve Smith

Next up is Steve Smith. Often hailed as the best Test batter of Australia for the reason that days of Don Bradman, Smith has additionally performed 142 ODIs for Australia. In these, he has scored 4,939 runs at a mean of 44.49. He has scored 12 centuries and 29 fifties in 126 innings, with the perfect rating of 164.

Smith has performed 24 World Cup matches since his debut in 2011. In these, he has scored 834 runs at a mean of 46.33, with one century and eight fifties in 20 innings, with the perfect rating of 105. He is the eighth-highest run-scorer for Australia in WC historical past.

The 2015 CWC was the very best level of Smith’s ODI profession. In the eight matches he performed, he scored 402 runs at a mean of 67.00, with one century and 4 half-centuries and greatest rating of 105. This included a match-winning century in opposition to India within the semis and a match-winning half-century in opposition to New Zealand within the finals. He was the sixth-highest run-scorer within the match and Australia’s main run-scorer.

This 12 months, nonetheless, Smith has not had a lot ODI match apply. He has performed solely two innings in three matches, scoring 22 runs at a mean of 11.00, with the perfect rating of twenty-two. He shall be wanting ahead to bettering and including to those stats in India.

Joe Root

Joe Root is up subsequent. In 161 ODIs, he has scored 6,217 runs at a mean of 48.95. He has scored 16 centuries and 36 fifties in 150 innings, with the perfect rating of 133*. He is England’s second-highest ODI run-scorer, subsequent to Eoin Morgan (6,957 runs).

Since his WC debut in 2015, he has represented England in 17 WC matches, scoring 758 runs at a mean of 54.14 in 16 innings, with three centuries and three fifties. His greatest rating in WC is 121. Behind the legendary Graham Gooch (897 runs in 21 innings), he’s England’s second-highest run-scorer in WC historical past.

Root’s most interesting second of his ODI profession got here within the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, when his group lifted their maiden title. In 11 matches, he scored 556 runs in 11 innings at a mean of 61.77, with two centuries and three fifties. He had the perfect rating of 107. Root ended because the fifth-highest run-scorer within the match and as England’s main batter too.

This 12 months, Root has performed solely three ODIs, scoring solely 10 runs. This match shall be his alternative to roar out loud in his aspect’s title defence.

Kane Williamson

Lastly, allow us to take a look at Kane Williamson. In 161 ODI matches, he has scored 6,554 runs at a mean of 47.83. He scored 13 centuries and 42 fifties in 153 innings, with the perfect rating of 148. He is the fifth-highest ODI run-scorer for New Zealand.

Ever since his World Cup debut in 2011, he has scored 911 runs in 23 matches and 22 innings at a mean of 56.93, with two centuries and three fifties. His greatest rating is 148. He is NZ’s fourth-highest run-scorer in WC historical past, behind Martin Guptill (995 runs), Ross Taylor (1002 runs) and Stephen Fleming (1,075 runs).

The 2019 World Cup is Williamson’s excessive level in ODIs. In 10 matches, he scored 578 runs at a mean of 82.57. He scored two centuries and two fifties, with the perfect rating of 148. He was the fourth-highest run-maker within the match and NZ’s greatest batter. This earned him the ‘Player of the Tournament’ award, however he couldn’t win the World Cup since a tie in common time at finals after which in Super Over led to his aspect dropping the match on the idea of boundary rely “by the barest of margins”.

In three matches this 12 months, he has scored 164 runs at a mean of 54.66, with two fifties and greatest rating of 85. Williamson, who has gained full health after struggling an harm throughout IPL 2023, shall be eager to be at his greatest throughout the marquee occasion in India.