Shane Watson ranks the ‘big five’ Test batters

Shane Watson was more than an able all-rounder during his playing times. He has been equally adept with the bat and the ball during the initial stages of his career. But at the later stages of his illustrious career, he gave up bowling due to injury and concentrated more on his batting. He recently ranked the current crop of ‘big five’ Test batters in the latest episode of his review of the Governing body of cricket.

Watson ranked the ‘big five’ in the following order with valid reasons on his part.

1.Virat Kohli: When asked about who in his opinion is the best Test batter, Watson said – “In Test match cricket, I am always going to say, Virat Kohli,”- during his conversation with Isa Guha in the show.

It’s nearly superhuman, what he is able to do because he has such high intensity every time, he goes out to play.”- he further added.

2.Babar Azam: “Babar Azam is playing incredibly well. To be able to see how he has adapted his game to really move his game to Test cricket as well. Babar Azam would probably be No.2 at the moment,”- Watson spoke on the Pakistani skipper.

3.Steve Smith: “Steve Smith has just started to come off a little bit. It looks like Smith has really started to play for time to little bit more and is not putting as much pressure on the bowlers as he did when was at his absolute best. For me, Steve has dropped down that list a little bit.”- said the former Australian all-rounder on Steve Smith.

4.Kane Williamson: Watson ranked New Zealand skipper at fourth and said – “Kane Williamson has had a few elbow issues. Kane knows his game inside out and knows how to put pressure on bowlers in any conditions.”

5.Joe Root: While speaking on the fifth player in his list Watson said – “Joe Root recently scored a hundred but he has had a bit of time along the line of Steve Smith where he hasn’t been able to nail big scores like he has done in the past.”

Speaking of the ‘big five’ in Test cricket let us take a look at the record of the batters in their last ten matches.