Former Australian captain picks between Virat Kohli and Steve Smith for better No.4 Test batter amid Ashes 2025-26

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke picked between legendary batters of the present and the past for the best Test No. 4 of all-time (Beyond23 Cricker Pod Instagram handle). In a 'This or That' format, Clarke had the arduous task of picking between Steve Smith and Virat Kohli in the first round.

After much deliberation, the former Aussie star went with fellow Australian batter Steve Smith. Smith recently crossed 10,000 Test runs and boasts a phenomenal average of almost 56, including 36 centuries, in 121 matches.

Meanwhile, Kohli retired from Tests earlier this year, finishing with 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries, in 123 games.

Clarke picked Smith in the next three rounds against Younis Khan, Kevin Pietersen, and Mahela Jayawardene. However, the former captain finally went against Smith when he was pitted against South African legend Jacques Kallis.

Kallis finished his Test career with 13,289 runs at an average of over 55, including 45 tons, in 166 matches. The champion Proteas all-rounder's victory lap was short-lived as Clarke picked Brian Lara over him in the next round.

Lara holds the record for the highest Test score with 400* against England in Antigua in 2004. He finished his stellar Test career with 11,953 runs at an average of 52.88, including 34 centuries and two 300+ scores.

Michael Clarke picks between Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar as the winner of the No.4 Test batter battle

The exercise did not stop as Michael Clarke had to choose between Brian Lara and Joe Root in the next round. Despite the latter going strong with 13,723 runs and 40 centuries, the former Aussie skipper stayed with Lara.

Yet, when it finally came down to Lara against Sachin Tendulkar, Clarke, after much thought, went with the Indian great. Tendulkar remains the all-time leader in Test runs and centuries with 15,921 and 51, respectively.

He also dismissed himself when pitted against Tendulkar in a fun final round, saying, 'It is Sachin Tendulkar by a distance’. Clarke enjoyed an incredible Test career himself, finishing with 8,643 runs at an average of 49, including 28 centuries, in 115 matches.