Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann says Joe Root wants to attain a century down below to be thought-about an “all-time nice” alongside fellow batters Virat Kohli of India, Australia’s Steve Smith and New Zealander Kane Williamson.
Root has scored 35 Take a look at centuries – probably the most for an England batter – however is but to achieve the milestone in an away Ashes collection.
He has performed 27 innings in Australia, averaging 35.68 and with a highest rating of 89.
Lehmann was talking after Australia have been thrashed by 295 runs within the opening Take a look at towards India, with Kohli scoring his thirtieth Take a look at ton general and seventh in Australia.
“Nope, he’s a rung under for that motive,” stated Lehmann on ABC Sport, when requested if Root was in the identical class.
“They’ve made runs all around the world in tough circumstances towards totally different oppositions, and that is the one factor stopping Joe Root. I believe he is a terrific participant, however is he an all-time nice?
“I haven’t got him in that realm. I believe you have to make lots of all world wide. Smith does, Williamson has, Kohli has, [Rohit] Sharma has – I imply they’re world-class gamers.”
Root, Smith, Williamson and Kohli have been branded the Fab 4 by former New Zealand batter Martin Crowe in 2014, touting them as the longer term greats of Take a look at cricket.
Since England’s final Ashes tour, Root has been in glowing type, scoring 12 lots of and 11 fifties.
Ben Stokes’ facet will look to regain the Ashes, which have been drawn in 2023, through the winter of 2025-26.
They start a three-Take a look at tour of New Zealand on Wednesday (22:00 GMT).