"One of the best tons I've seen at Perth" Gilchrist, Vaughan discuss Virat Kohli vs Joe Root in Australia

Joe Root now holds the record for the most test centuries by an Englishman.

Joe Root’s scintillating form in recent years has been a treat to watch. The former England captain has been racking up runs and centuries with seeming ease. At times, he’s looked virtually unstoppable.

In the second test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, Root hammered centuries in both innings. He equalled and then broke Alastair Cook’s record of most test centuries for England (33).

Root’s rise in numbers since 2021 has seen him catch up with Virat Kohli and Steve Smith in terms of stature in test cricket. Since 2021, he has scored 4554, while the second-best is 2564, at an average of 56. He’s slammed 17 centuries in this period, while the next-best batter has seven.

Virat Kohli or Joe Root in Australia? Gilchrist, Vaughan make their picks

While Root has been phenomenal in most parts of the world, he has an underwhelming record in Australia, where he averages a mediocre 35 and hasn’t recorded a ton Down Under.

On the other hand, Kohli averages a whopping 54 in Australia and has notched up six high-quality centuries.

Former cricketers Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan discussed the two batters’ performances in Australia. While both agreed that on current form, Root is miles ahead of Kohli, the duo admitted that in Australia, they’d go with the India star over the English run-machine.

Speaking on a podcast on Club Prairie Fire, Gilchrist said, “In the last short while, definitely [Root]. Over a long period of time Joe Root’s stats are…, well he’s the best England ever had.“

However, he added, “Virat scored one of the best tons I’ve seen at the Perth stadium in the first Test match ever played there, that was probably different gravy. I’d probably say Virat.”

Vaughan agreed: “I wouldn’t argue with that in Australia. I would say Virat in Australia against the Aussies, anywhere else I’m going Joe Root.”

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