Flags

▮ Age:

▮ Tests:

▮ Career:

▮ As captain:

▮ Against India:

▮ In England:

▮ Since January 2020:

▮ World test batting ranking:

▮ Age: 32

▮ Tests: 91 (debut v West Indies at Kingston, June 2011)

▮ Career: 7490 runs at 52.37, HS 254no, 27x100

▮ As captain: 60 tests (36 wins, 60%), 5392 runs at 58.60, HS 254no, 20x100

▮ Against New Zealand:

KANE WILLIAMSON

(NEW ZEALAND)

30

84 (debut v India at Ahmedabad, November 2010) 7129 runs at 53.60, HS 251, 24x100

36 tests (21 wins, 58%), 3092 runs at 60.62, HS 251, 11x100

11 tests, 728 runs at 36.40, HS 131, 2x100

5 tests, 261 runs at 26.10, HS 132, 1x100

6 tests, 750 runs at 83.33, HS 251, 3x100

2

VIRAT KOHLI (INDIA)

▮ In England:

▮ Since January 2020:

9 tests, 773 runs at 51.53, HS 211, 3x100 10 tests, 727 runs at 36.35, HS 149, 2x100

288 runs at 24, HS 74

7 tests,

▮ World test batting ranking:

4

essentially an overuse issue after that 29-hour batting marathon against West Indies and Pakistan including two double-centuries – flared again and saw him miss the Edgbaston victory over England after scoring 13 and 1 at Lord’s. It was heavily strapped at training yesterday. In England Williamson averages just 26, 10 runs fewer than Kohli.

Kohli, too, hasn’t caused a flurry among the stats gurus of late. Taking in the February 2020 series in New Zealand, when the Black Caps won 2-0 on tricky surfaces, he hasn’t scored a test century in his last 12 innings and averaged just 24 in that time against New Zealand, Australia and England.

Neither skipper has led their side to a world title. On the big stage, a trademark big innings from either talisman could be the difference in what shapes as a tightly fought contest.