Steve Smith is a better batsman than Virat Kohli in Test cricket: Shane Warne

Former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne has revealed his point of views on the big debate surrounding the cricket world presently, that who is a better between Aussie skipper Steve Smith and Indian captain Virat Kohli. Warne feels that Smith is a better player as compared to Kohli when it comes to the longest format of the game. He also stated that the Indian captain is the best across all the three formats of the game but his counterpart is a greater batsman in Test cricket.

Both Smith and Kohli have performed incredibly well to win games and are the prized wickets for their respective teams. Their achievements, records and the hunger to score big runs in all types of conditions is just exemplary to watch for all the fans and people associated with the game. But, Warne has made his mind clear that Smith is an exceptional batsman in red-ball cricket.

“To me Steve Smith is the best Test batsman in the world. Virat Kohli is the best across all three formats of the game, but across five days, Steve Smith is the man,” said Warne on the Kohli-Smith debate as quoted by the Hindu.

The best batsman should be capable of playing in all conditions

The former Aussie legend stated that he assesses the batsman the way they perform in different conditions and pressure situations. The leggie revealed that a great batsman should have the ability to score runs in three major countries, in England where the ball tends to seam and move, in Australia where there are fast and bouncy tracks and at last in India on pitches assisting the spinners. The real answer to the debate will be when one out of Smith or Kohli will be doing well in the challenging conditions.

“To me a great batsman has to have made a hundred in three key countries: in England, against the Duke ball on seaming and swinging pitches; in Australia, on our fast-paced, bouncy tracks; and of course, in the dust bowls of India, on pitches that spin and spit,” he added.

Warne also feels that the Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli has one big hole in his career so far which is his performance in England with the Duke ball.  But he also believes that Kohli will surely improve his records when his team tours England next year.

“The hole in Kohli’s CV on the Test match stage is in England and the pressure is on the fiery but very likeable Indian to carry over some double-ton magic from home soil to that country when his team tours next year,” concluded the Aussie spin legend.