Jonty Rhodes rates Virat Kohli higher than world’s best Test batsman Steve Smith

Mumbai: After the Ashes series got tied at 2-2, former South African player Jonty Rhodes compared Steve Smith with Indian Skipper Virat Kohli and Smith as a batsman who scores the “ugliest hundreds”, while Virat Kohli was termed as an idol, whom the new generation should follow according to the former fielding legend.

Smith, who amassed 774 during the five-match Test series, came into the Ashes as a “cheat”, who got involved in the 2018 alleged ball tampering scandal, and at the end of the series he received a standing ovation after having registered 774 runs under his belt, with an astonishing average of 110.57.

During the five-match series, the 30-year-old registered 3 centuries, including a double ton, and three 50s in his seven innings. The only time the former Australian captain got under 50 was during the second innings when he was dismissed by Stuart Broad for 23.

Recently, Smith made the headlines after he helped his side retain the Ashes. Initially, Smith was constantly booed by the English crowd, but, after his incredible Ashes run, the booing crown turned into clapping fans.

After Smith’s phenomenal Ashes run, the right-handed batsman moved to the top of ICC’s batsman ranking from his previous position (fourth). Meanwhile, Virat Kohli, who scored two 50s during the tour of West Indies, managed to score only 192 during the two-match Test series. The 30-year-old has to wait for the home Test series against South Africa in order to dethrone Smith from the top.

After Comparing Steve Smith with Virat Kohli, the former Proteas player rated Virat Kohli higher than Smith and stated, "I enjoy watching Virat Kohli. Steve Smith, with that action and technique, makes the ugliest hundreds I have ever seen but the man just keeps scoring runs."

"Someone who likes to watch cricket would want to say 'Wow! What an amazing shot' as opposed to 'Oh! How on earth can he hit that?' So Virat Kohli right now," the South Africa legend said, during an interview with the New Indian Express.