Mike Brearley wants England skipper Joe Root to learn something from Virat Kohli

Former England captain Mike Brearley feels current Test skipper Joe Root has something to learn from India’s Virat Kohli when it comes to batting. In a recent interview, the former cricketer emphasized the major difference between the two cricketers in their abilities to convert 50s into 100s. Kohli’s conversion rate remains remarkable, while Root has continued to struggle to convert his starts into big knocks.

Both players are however considered among the top 4 batsmen in the world at the moment, alongside Kane Williamson and Steve Smith. Despite Root’s sheer talent and ability to score runs aplenty, his conversion rate has been a topic of discussion in many a debate. In the recently concluded five-match series against India, Joe Root was able to score one century at The Oval but failed to convert a fifty at Edgbaston in the opening Test.

Kohli, however, went on to amass 593 runs averaging 59.30 in the series. He scored two hundreds and two fifties. The key figure in this comparison between Kohli and Root is the conversion rate: the Indian batter’s conversion rate stands at 54, as opposed to Root’s 25. Virat Kohli is currently behind Sir Don Bradman and George Headley as far as conversion rates are concerned.

Perhaps Root tries too hard to convert 50s into 100s: Brearley

“Root is a terrific batsman. He hasn’t quite come off in the last year and I don’t know why it is that he keeps getting out between 50 and 100. It’s not for want of trying. Perhaps he starts trying too hard. Virat Kohli’s conversion rate from 50s to 100s is something like 59 or 60 per cent (it’s 54), Root’s is something like 25. It’s quite an interesting contrast — these are two of the best four or five players in the world,” said Brearley.

“It takes 10 years, you know. I don’t know the answer. It isn’t that he keeps getting out in the same way. It isn’t that he’s short of shots and by the time he gets to 70 he has to take a few more risks than Kohli would have to. It isn’t that: he’s got all the shots,” he added.

After a break during the Asia Cup, Virat was back at the helm for India and kicked off the Windies series in style, bringing up his 24th Test century in Rajkot. He thus became the fastest Indian to reach 24 Test centuries, overtaking greats Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar.

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