Stand-in, Stand Out

In a series of runs, runs and more runs, Steve Smith and Virat Kohli STOOD THE TALLEST with an amalgam of focus and technique. They are also young Test captains, but different personalities with the same intent, unburdened by responsibility.

- S.Dinakar

The numbers are staggering. Records have been left behind. Their appetite for runs has been enormous. Centuries have been rolling off the blades of Virat Kohli and Steven Smith. Both are in the midst of a dream run.

In a series of runs, runs and more runs, the two stood the tallest with an amalgam of focus and technique.

They are also young Test captains, but different personalities with the same intent, unburdened by responsibility.

THE 25-YEAR-OLD SMITH’S awesome 769 runs in four Tests at 128.16 are the most by any batsman in an India-Australia series. He also joined Bradman and Jacques Kallis as the only batsmen to score four hundreds in consecutive Tests of the same series.

The marauding Kohli finished with 692 runs in four Tests at 86.50. No Indian batsman has scored more runs in a series down under.

Kohli’s three hundreds in his first three innings as captain have never been done before in Tests. He followed Sunil Gavaskar as the only Indian to notch up four centuries in a Test series.

Just 26, he seems to have understood the grammar of batsmanship. But then, Kohli doesn’t quite possess the composure of Smith while leading his men on the field. Reining in his temper and masking his emotions is an area Kohli needs to work on.

KOHLI THOUGH HAS THE TALENT to match his ambition. The manner in which he cover-drove Nathan Lyon on surfaces offering turn — Kohli used his powerful wrists to control the ball as he whipped it — was outstanding.

The young man has worked on his methods. His back-lift is straighter, while his back-and across movement has cohesion.