Michael Vaughan Names Best All-Format Batsman In The World

Virat Kohli and Steve Smith have an intense rivalry between each other in the modern-day cricket. There is one thing that both stalwarts have in common which is the appetite for scoring runs on a consistent basis. Their evolution as cricketers is totally a different story altogether. Virat Kohli grew from strength to strength and managed to touch the highest level.

On the other side of the spectrum, Steve Smith started his career as a leg spinner before turning out to be one of the recognised batsmen in the world. When it comes to naming the best player in the world, there has always been a constant debate between Virat Kohli and Steve Smith. Word has it that Steve Smith is the best player in red-ball cricket and Virat Kohli is the best batsman in limited-overs.

Virat Kohli is the best batsman across formats: Michael Vaughan

The former England captain, Michael Vaughan has now put the debate to rest by rating Virat Kohli as the best batsman in the world across all formats. Responding to a tweet which said former Aussie captain Steven Smith is the finest all-format batsman, Michael Vaughan said: “Disagree … Virat is the best all-round … !!”

Disagree … Virat is the best all round … !! https://t.co/zJPt7v8ewS

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 20, 2020

Steve Smith made a stellar rebound to international cricket after his one-year ban from the game owing to his role in the ball-tampering scandal. After his ban, he kept scoring runs at will across all formats. In the just-concluded ODI series against India, Steve Smith ended up as the leading run-scorer as he accumulated 229 runs.

While cricket experts had their say about Steve Smith’s ninth ODI century with many of them praising Australia’s best batsman, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif thinks otherwise as he has labelled it a failure adding that Steve Smith couldn’t accelerate in the death overs to help team post a competitive total.

Latif was pleased with how Indian pacers conducted themselves in the match. The former Pakistan skipper heaped praise on Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah for keeping the Australian batsmen in check especially in the last 10 overs of the Australia innings. The pacers rose to the occasion and picked up wickets in crunch situation of the game.

“One has to give credit to Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah for their efforts in the death overs. 80 balls for 80 chalte hain, but when you score 131, you need to do it in 100 or 105 balls. Smith’s inability to accelerate and his slow partnership forced Australia to promote Mitchell Starc as a pinch hitter,” Rashid Latif said on his YouTube channel.

Read More: Michael Vaughan Reacts To Kagiso Rabada’s Ban From The Fourth Test Against England