The Ashes 2023: Joe Root and Steve Smith ready for the summer showdown

Location: Edgbaston Dates: June 16-20Coverage: Live text commentary and live video clips at the BBC Sport website and app, as well as BBC Test Match Special on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. Daily Today at the Test highlights on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer from 7pm BST.
England has Joe Root , with the most Tests runs among active hitters, on a sparkling series of form.
L 'Australia has Steve Smith, the supreme test-maker of the era, looking back at his best.
Who will be the biggest test hitter? And if you have to pick one to hit number four, who do you go for?
Ashes records
If you choose a player for an Ashes series, Smith is the clear winner.
< p class="" data-reactid=".z74wigzokq.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-10">Only Australian legend Don Bradman (19) and English great Jack Hobbs (12) have more centuries of ashes than the 11 of Smith.
He is fifth on the all-time racing list with Ashes with 3,044 - 592 behind Hobbs second - so he'll likely end his career as the Ashes' most prolific scorer since Bradman (5,028), and could get there by the end of this streak.
Root is averaging 38.76 against Australia compared to 53.82 against all other teams.
All of his three centuries of ashes have gone home, and he hasn't done one since 2015.
Smith's Ashes average in...

Sports Jun 16, 2023 0 57 Add to Reading List

The Ashes 2023: Joe Root and Steve Smith ready for the summer showdown

Then Australia captain Steve Smith (left) then England captain Joe Root (right) shake hands during the Ashes 2017-18

Location: Edgbaston Dates: June 16-20Coverage: Live text commentary and live video clips at the BBC Sport website and app, as well as BBC Test Match Special on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. Daily Today at the Test highlights on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer from 7pm BST.

England has Joe Root , with the most Tests runs among active hitters, on a sparkling series of form.

L 'Australia has Steve Smith, the supreme test-maker of the era, looking back at his best.

Who will be the biggest test hitter? And if you have to pick one to hit number four, who do you go for?

Ashes records A graph of Joe Root (left) and Steve Smith (right) records in Ashes Tests. Root: 2,016 runs, 38.76 in average, three centuries, 1650 in 56 innings. Smith: 3044 points, 59.68 ERA, 11 centuries, 11 fiftieths in 56 innings

A graph of Joe Root (left) and Steve Smith (right) records in Ashes Tests. Root: 2,016 runs, 38.76 in average, three centuries, 1650 in 56 innings. Smith: 3044 points, 59.68 ERA, 11 centuries, 11 fiftieths in 56 innings

If you choose a player for an Ashes series, Smith is the clear winner.

< p class="" data-reactid=".z74wigzokq.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-10">Only Australian legend Don Bradman (19) and English great Jack Hobbs (12) have more centuries of ashes than the 11 of Smith.

He is fifth on the all-time racing list with Ashes with 3,044 - 592 behind Hobbs second - so he'll likely end his career as the Ashes' most prolific scorer since Bradman (5,028), and could get there by the end of this streak.

Root is averaging 38.76 against Australia compared to 53.82 against all other teams.

All of his three centuries of ashes have gone home, and he hasn't done one since 2015.

Smith's Ashes average in...