Williamson expects ‘phenomenal’ Root to keep breaking records

GREATTER NOIDA, India: New Zealand´s Kane Williamson admits he is a big fan of “phenomenal” Joe Root, believing England´s top-ranked Test batsman will break many more records.

New Zealand begin a South Asia tour against Afghanistan in a one-off Test near New Delhi on Monday, ahead of two Tests in Sri Lanka and three more in India. Williamson is one of the current generation of leading Test batsmen alongside Root, Virat Kohli of India and Australia´s Steve Smith, who were dubbed the “Fab Four” by late New Zealand great Martin Crowe.

“(Root) has been phenomenal, and I´m obviously a big fan of his,” 34-year-old Williamson told reporters at the Greater Noida ground on Saturday, venue for the Afghanistan clash. “I´ve enjoyed watching not just him, but obviously those other guys,” he said, referring to Kohli and Smith.

He called all three “amazing players” that have “moved the game forward in a big way”. Root has been among the runs lately, in contrast to the dipping form of Kohli and Smith.