Every Ashes summer brings a familiar question: who’s got the edge — Joe Root vs Steve Smith? These two, part of the legendary Fab 4 in cricket, are about to write another fiery chapter in their long-running saga. With the urn up for grabs again, it’s more than just England vs Australia but a personal duel between two modern masters both eyeing the crown of the best batsman in the Ashes.

Joe Root vs Steve Smith：Overall Ashes Numbers

Let’s start with the bare stats. They don’t tell the whole story, but they do paint a rather telling picture.

Looking at the overall record, Smith’s dominance is pretty clear. He’s got almost a thousand more runs, a far higher average, and triple the hundreds. Root’s been consistent, but Smith’s conversion rate, turning fifties into hundreds, is the real separator. If we’re talking raw numbers, the Aussie star currently wears the tag of best batsman in the Ashes.

Joe Root vs Steve Smith：Ashes in England

Now, you’d expect Root to have the upper hand on his home turf, right? Let’s see how the two have gone when the pitches are green, the clouds are grey, and the Dukes ball is doing its thing.

Even in England, Smith’s numbers are astonishing. Root’s 1,500-plus runs are solid and his average is decent enough, but Smith outbats him in every column. It’s the kind of away dominance that makes you shake your head. Smith has been a nightmare visitor, batting England’s bowlers into exhaustion, series after series.

Joe Root vs Steve Smith：Ashes in Australia

This is where things get tricky for Root, and where Smith practically lives.

Here’s the thing: Root has played 27 innings in Australia without a single hundred. Nine half-centuries, sure, but not one three-figure score. Smith, meanwhile, averages mid-50s with five hundreds to his name. It’s the ultimate contrast. Every time the debate about the best batsman in the Ashes pops up, these Australian numbers weigh heavily against Root.

Root’s Burning Desire

Still, don’t write him off. Joe Root knows the score, literally and figuratively. He’s openly admitted that Australia is the one mountain he’s yet to conquer. As he put it:

“But I feel ready for it. Big series are the ones you want to play in and contribute in. I feel that is the opportunity in front of us that we have to chase and grab… If I am doing my role in the team then personal accolades will come, but it’s not the main focus. It’s about winning that urn back.”

That’s classic Root, humble, determined, but quietly obsessed. His form since 2023 has been superb, and it feels like the stars might finally align for him. But make no mistake, Australian pitches, the bounce, the movement, the psychological weight, it’s all part of his biggest challenge yet. To truly stand alongside Smith in Ashes history, Root needs that elusive century down under. And that’s why the Joe Root vs Steve Smith rivalry feels so alive. One man looks to defend his legacy, and the other desperate to rewrite his.

Smith the Skipper：A Different Animal

Now, let’s talk about the other side. With Pat Cummins out injured, Smith will once again wear the captain’s armband, and history suggests that’s bad news for England. Smith’s record as captain is, frankly, outrageous. When leading Australia, he averages nearly 69; when not, it drops to around 50. It’s as if responsibility supercharges him. Back in his first Ashes series as skipper, he piled up 687 runs at an average of 137.40, including that monstrous 239 in Perth. Those numbers alone justify his inclusion among the Fab 4 in cricket and underline why he’s so often called the best batsman in the Ashes.

Related Article：Pat Cummins vs Steve Smith：Who’s the Better Ashes Skipper?

Even his stand-in stints since Cummins took over have been near-flawless. Six Tests as interim captain, five wins, and not a single defeat. He’s relaxed, strategic, and just plain difficult to dislodge. As Usman Khawaja put it: “He’s even better now that he doesn’t have it full-time.” So while Root is chasing redemption, Smith is sharpening his dominance, a calm leader who bats like a machine and thinks two overs ahead of everyone else.

Final Whistle：Who’s on Top?

So, where do we land on Joe Root vs Steve Smith? Smith’s stats are superior, no doubt, both at home and away. He’s the more clinical, the more prolific, and probably still the best batsman in the Ashes. But Root’s story isn’t done. If he finally gets that hundred in Australia, the whole narrative changes.

For now, Smith leads the scoreboard, but Root leads the hearts, and maybe that’s what keeps the rivalry so thrilling. Either way, these two giants of the Fab 4 in cricket guarantee that the next Ashes won’t just be about wickets and runs, but pride, redemption, and legacy.