Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting picked Ashes superstar Steve Smith as the best number four batter in Test cricket (via Sky Sports Cricket). Australia are set to host England for the 2025-26 Ashes, with the first Test scheduled to begin on Friday, November 21.He first picked Kevin Pietersen over Mahela Jayawardene and Mark Waugh. However, he picked Javed Miandad over Pietersen. Ponting then picked Steve Smith over Miandad. He stayed with Smith over Brian Lara, Jacques Kallis, and Virat Kohli.The former Australia skipper also stuck to Smith over Joe Root. Finally, he stayed with Smith over the legendary Sachin Tendulkar as well, therefore declaring Smith as the best number four batter in the format. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostSmith has scored 10477 runs from 212 innings at an average of 56.03 with 36 hundreds and 43 half-centuries. His best has come at number four, where he has scored 6666 runs in 125 innings at an average of 60.05 with 23 hundreds and 27 fifties.In the absence of Pat Cummins, who was ruled out for the first 2025-26 Ashes game at Perth, Steve Smith will lead Australia. The hosts announced their playing 11 with Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett set to be the two debutants.Smith has played 37 Tests against England so far. He has been successful with 3417 runs at an average of 56.01, including 12 hundreds and 13 half-centuries.What are Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar's stats at number four in Test cricket?Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar are both among the great batters to have played this format. Kohli made his debut in 2011. He played 123 matches and scored 9230 runs at an average of 46.85 with 30 hundreds.Tendulkar amassed 15921 runs in 200 Tests at an average of 53.78 with 51 hundreds, having made his debut in 1989.At number four, Kohli scored the majority of his runs. He made 7564 runs from 160 innings at an average of 50.09 with 26 hundreds and 21 half-centuries. Similarly, Tendulkar's best in the format also came at number four.He amassed 13492 runs in 275 innings at the position, averaging 54.40 with 44 hundreds and 58 half-centuries to his name.