Ex-New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson recently shared his thoughts regarding cricket’s renowned ‘Fab Four’ discussion, explaining that he paid little mind to the tag throughout his active playing days. Nevertheless, reflecting on the epoch he spent alongside Virat Kohli, Joe Root and Steve Smith, Williamson noted that their concurrent career paths created a genuinely extraordinary phase in world cricket.
During an appearance on the Stick to Cricket podcast, Williamson contemplated the ongoing comparisons that shadowed the quartet of batsmen for over a decade. Instead of concentrating on statistical metrics, player rankings, or debates over who topped the list, he emphasized the value of testing himself against three phenomenal cricketers while playing for their respective nations.
Kane Williamson addresses the ‘Fab Four’ comparisons
The phrase ‘Fab Four’ gained widespread traction as Williamson, Kohli, Root, and Smith developed into the premier batters of their era. Their achievements, especially within the Test arena, consistently ignited discussions among cricket enthusiasts regarding who possessed the most impressive record.
Regardless of the media focus, Williamson indicated that the title was never something he gave active thought to.
“I didn’t really think twice about it. It was mentioned frequently since people kept bringing it up, but in hindsight, now that my career has wrapped up, it stands out as quite special. Not owing to the stats, but due to how closely aligned our journeys were and the fact that we genuinely built personal connections. Each of us took a distinct route while playing for our homelands. I reflect on it not out of pride for the moniker itself, but because of that shared timeframe where we went head-to-head over many years. I shared a team with Rooty (Joe Root) for Yorkshire, Virat and I go back to our Under-19 days, and with Smudge as well, it’s just very distinctive,” Williamson mentioned during the Stick to Cricket Podcast.
To Williamson, the standout element was not simply being grouped alongside three world-class athletes, but rather sharing a timeframe in which all four established their reputations and battled at the peak of the sport.
Williamson details his bonds with Virat Kohli, Joe Root, and Steve Smith
Even though the four icons were constantly lumped together in conversation, their personal connections off the international field varied.
Williamson had previously spent time alongside Root in Yorkshire’s county dressing room and had a history with Kohli extending back to youth cricket. On the other hand, his encounters with Smith were somewhat fewer by comparison.
“Honestly, they all have pretty distinct personalities. I’ve hung out a fair amount with Virat and Rooty, and occasionally with Smudge over time, though certainly more with some than others,” he stated.
What Williamson respected about his ‘Fab Four’ peers
Williamson further expressed deep appreciation for how Kohli, Root, and Smith went about their craft. Far from viewing them merely as competitors, he valued their unique technical approaches and the high benchmarks they continuously set for their national sides.
“Each of them brings a unique personality, but I thoroughly enjoyed observing their styles and methods. I truly respected their execution. For my part, my focus was consistently centered on my role and fulfilling the team’s needs,” Williamson expressed.
This perspective highlighted Williamson’s modest methodology throughout his time on the international stage. While external discourse frequently gravitated toward individual accolades, his primary target remained driving victory for New Zealand.
Williamson stepped away from international cricket in June this year following a distinguished 16-year stint, concluding his journey as New Zealand’s top run-getter with a total of 19,346 runs across all disciplines. His career statistics feature 9,515 Test runs alongside 33 hundreds in the red-ball format.
