Steve Smith vs Joe Root - comparing their stats after 119 Tests ahead of Ashes 2025-26

Steve Smith and Joe Root will be key batters for their respective sides in Ashes 2025-26. The latest edition of the Australia vs England battle will kick off in Perth on Friday, November 21. The other Tests of Ashes 2025-26 will be played in Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.

Looking at Smith's recent form, he scored 57 & 56* while leading New South Wales against Victoria in match 10 of the Sheffield Shield. Before that, he 118 against Queensland in Brisbane in a match that ended in a draw. As for Root, he scored 1 & 31 in the tour match between England XI and England Lions in Lilac Hill Park in Perth. His last Test was against India in August in which he hit a ton.

While Root has played 158 Tests so far, Smith has featured in 119. Ahead of Ashes 2025-26, we compare Root's stats with those of Smith after the former had also played 119 Test matches.

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Steve Smith vs Joe Root - Who has a better record in the Ashes after 119 Tests?

Smith has played 37 matches in the Ashes and has scored 3,417 runs at an average of 56.01, with the aid of 12 hundreds and 13 half-centuries. In 18 Ashes Tests at home, he has scored 1,417 runs at an average of 54.50, with five tons and five fifties. The Aussie legend hit 239 at the WACA, Perth in the 2017-18 Ashes.

The 36-year-old has scored exactly 2,000 runs in 19 away Ashes Tests, averaging 57.14, with seven hundreds and eight half-centuries. Smith scored 215 at Lord's during the 2015 Ashes and 211 in Manchester in the 2019 edition. The former Australian captain amassed 774 runs in seven innings in Ashes 2019.

Player	Matches	Runs	Average	HS	100s	50s
Steve Smith	37	3,417	56.01	239	12	13
Joe Root	29	2,016	38.76	180	3	16

(Steve Smith vs Joe Root - Batting stats comparison in Ashes after 119 Tests)

After 119 Tests, Root had been part of 29 Ashes matches. In 56 innings against Australia, he had scored 2,016 runs at an average of 38.76, with three tons and 16 half-centuries. In 15 home Tests, he had 1,124 runs at an average of 41.62, with three hundreds and seven half-centuries. Root had scored 180 at Lord's in Ashes 2013, 134 in Cardiff in 2015 and 130 in Nottingham during the same series.

In 14 away Ashes Tests, Root had scored 892 runs at an average of 35.68, with the aid of nine half-centuries. His best of 89 came in Brisbane in December 2021. The former England captain had also scored 87 in Adelaide in December 2013.

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Steve Smith vs Joe Root - Who has more runs and a better average after 119 Tests?

In 119 Tests, Smith has scored 10,477 runs at an average of 56.02. Of his runs, 2,356 have come in 24 matches against India at an average of 58.90. He has also scored 1,175 runs in 15 matches against Pakistan at an average of 51.08 and 933 runs in 13 Tests against South Africa at an average of 44.42.

Player	Runs	Average	HS	100s	50s
Steve Smith	10,477	56.02	239	36	43
Joe Root	10.194	49.97	254	27	53

(Steve Smith vs Joe Root - Batting stats comparison after 119 Tests)

After 119 Tests, Root had 10,194 runs to his name at an average of 49.97. Of his runs at that stage, 2,353 came in 24 Tests against India at an average of 60.33. He had also scored 1,297 runs in 15 Tests against New Zealand (average 48.03) and 1,164 runs in 12 Tests against South Africa (average 52.90).

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Steve Smith vs Joe Root - Who has more double hundreds after 119 Tests?

Smith has four double hundreds in Test cricket. His career-best of 239 came against England at the WACA in December 2017. The Aussie also scored 215 at Lord's in July 2015, 211 in Manchester in September 2019 and 200* against West Indies in Perth in November 2022. Further, the 36-year-old was dismissed for 199 against West Indies in Kingston in June 2015.

After 119 Tests, Root had five double hundreds to his name. His best of 254 came against Pakistan in Manchester in July 2016. The England batter had also scored 228 against Sri Lanka in Galle (January 2021), 226 against New Zealand in Hamilton (November 2019), 218 against India in Chennai (February 2021) and 200* against Sri Lanka at Lord's (June 2014).

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Steve Smith vs Joe Root - Who has a better record in WTC after 119 Tests?

In 55 matches in the World Test Championship (WTC), Smith has amassed 4,278 runs at an average of 49.74, with 13 hundreds, 19 half-centuries and a best of 211. He has been dismissed without scoring seven times.

Player	Matches	Runs	Average	HS	100s	50s
Steve Smith	55	4,278	49.74	211	13	19
Joe Root	34	3,140	52.33	228	10	12

(Steve Smith vs Joe Root - Batting stats comparison in WTC after 119 Tests)

After 119 Tests, Root had played 34 WTC Tests in which he had scored 3,140 runs at an average of 52.33, with the aid of 10 tons, 12 half-centuries and a best of 228. The former England captain had been dismissed for a duck six times.