IND vs ENG: Fitness, Technique Helps Joe Root Get Back Among 'Big Four' Batsmen

Joe Root's 128 not out on the first day of the first Test against India - his third ton in three matches - pushed not just his Test average beyond 50, like Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and Kane Will

"It has been a number of things I have had to improve. Mental side, physically. It is really important that with the amount of cricket we play we are physically in the best shape. To be able to perform at our absolute best," he added.

Considered below the other three stalwarts, his record suggests that he is way better than at least Williamson whose average against the top teams in Test cricket - Australia, England, India, and South Africa - is below 50. Williamson, though, is acknowledged for technical skills.

Root raises his game against Asian sides, especially India, against whom his average is 61.96 in his 17th Test. Against Pakistan, his average is 56.11 and against Sri Lanka, it is 58.88.

In fact, the only countries against which he averages below 50 are arch-rivals Australia (40.33 in 24 Tests), Ireland (16.5 in 1 Test), and Bangladesh (24.5 in 2 Tests).

Smith and Kohli have performed consistently against every team - the Australian's average though falls to around 41 against South Africa and Sri Lanka and dips to 29.75 against Bangladesh (2 Tests).

Kohli has a 50-plus average against each team but is just a shade below 50 against England and Australia.

Pakistan's Babar Azam is also considered among the best batsmen of this era, but his failure to make big, consistent scores is keeping him behind the pack of four. The Pakistani is just 26, much younger than the other three, and promises to attain great heights.