Categories: AnalysisPlayers

Ricky Ponting Names Steve Smith Best No. 4 Batter Ever

The debate over cricket’s greatest batters is as old as the game itself. But when a legend like Ricky Ponting—a former Australia captain and one of the most prolific No. 3 batters ever—steps in to settle the score, fans listen. In a recent analysis, Ponting was tasked with identifying the greatest No. 4 batter in Test history. His answer? Steve Smith. Not Virat Kohli. Not Sachin Tendulkar. Not Brian Lara or Joe Root. Just Smith .

Ponting’s No. 4 Battle Royale: How Smith Won
Why No. 4 Is Cricket’s Most Critical Spot
Steve Smith’s Test Record at No. 4: The Cold, Hard Stats
How Smith Beats Kohli, Lara, Root—and Even Tendulkar

Ponting’s No. 4 Battle Royale: How Smith Won

Ponting’s selection process was methodical and unforgiving. He started by pitting Pakistan’s Javed Miandad against Smith—and chose Smith. Then came West Indies legend Brian Lara. Smith again. Next up: South African great Jacques Kallis, one of the most complete cricketers ever. Still, Ponting sided with Smith .

The real litmus test came when Ponting had to choose between Steve Smith and Virat Kohli—two modern titans who’ve dominated the last decade of Test cricket. Despite Kohli’s 80+ international centuries and iconic overseas performances, Ponting gave the edge to Smith based on technique, consistency under pressure, and sheer adaptability across conditions .

Even England’s Joe Root—a master of accumulation and one of the most elegant batters of his generation—wasn’t enough to sway Ponting. For the Australian legend, Smith’s unorthodox style masks a genius-level understanding of Test match batting that transcends aesthetics .

Why No. 4 Is Cricket’s Most Critical Spot

Before we dive into Smith’s numbers, it’s worth understanding why the No. 4 position carries so much weight in Test cricket:

Bridge Between Top & Middle Order: No. 4 must stabilize if an early wicket falls or accelerate if the top order dominates.
Longest Possible Innings: Often faces the highest number of deliveries in the innings, requiring immense concentration.
Pressure Cooker Role: Expected to convert starts into big hundreds and anchor the team through tough spells.

Legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Allan Border, and Kumar Sangakkara all thrived at No. 4. So for Ponting to call Smith the best in that lineage is a monumental statement .

Steve Smith’s Test Record at No. 4: The Cold, Hard Stats

Numbers don’t lie—and Smith’s stats at No. 4 are staggering. As of November 2025:

Metric	Value
Matches at No. 4	92+
Runs	7,800+
Average	62.5+
Centuries	28+
Strike Rate	55.8

What makes this even more impressive? Smith has maintained this average despite the infamous 2018 ball-tampering ban that cost him a year of cricket. He returned not just to form, but to a higher plane of performance—scoring twin centuries in his comeback Test against India in 2018 .

Compare that to Kohli’s No. 4 average of ~50, Root’s ~47, and Lara’s ~53 . Smith’s ability to bat for time, wear down attacks, and score runs in all conditions—even in England and India—gives him the statistical edge .

How Smith Beats Kohli, Lara, Root—and Even Tendulkar

Ponting’s verdict isn’t just about numbers. It’s about context:

Against Kohli: While Kohli dominates in Asia, Smith has been equally prolific in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries.
Against Lara: Lara’s flair was unmatched, but Smith’s consistency over a longer modern era—with better bowling standards—tips the scale.
Against Tendulkar: Sachin scored more runs overall, but a large chunk came at No. 5 and No. 6 early in his career. His No. 4 record, while brilliant, doesn’t match Smith’s average.

Smith’s “fidgety” technique—mocked early in his career—has proven to be an adaptive masterpiece, allowing him to play late and adjust to movement off the seam or swing in the air .

Final Thoughts

Love him or find his technique awkward, Steve Smith has redefined what’s possible at No. 4 in Test cricket. Ricky Ponting’s endorsement isn’t just national pride—it’s a recognition of a rare batting brain that thrives under pressure, adapts relentlessly, and delivers when it matters most. In the pantheon of greats, Smith may not be the most elegant, but according to one of the game’s sharpest minds, he’s the most effective.