Smith, Williamson and Root a class apart

In the end Joe Root didn't manage to score the 103 runs more he needed to take him past Australia's Steve Smith as 2015's most prolific batsman in Test cricket.

The Englishman had started day four of this first Test against South Africa unbeaten on 60. It was the 13th time he had passed 50 in Tests this year. However, he had failed to convert nine of those scores into three figures.

Root, who celebrates his 25th birthday today, added 13 more to his overnight score before an errant cut to Kyle Abbott saw him caught at first slip.

Unlike the other nine occasions Root had failed to make it to a hundred when set, this time there was the mitigating factor of the Yorkshireman putting himself before the team as England looked for quick runs and a declaration.

WATCH: Smith hammers Windies at the 'G

Root's 1,385 Test runs in 2015 were the second most by any Englishman in a calendar year, behind only the 1,481 Michael Vaughan scored in 2002 – the year that bisected his golden Australian Ashes summer when he somehow won the man of the series award despite England getting walloped 4-1 by Australia.

Still, though, Smith seems to be enjoying an endless golden summer, his 1,474 runs over the past 12 months putting him top of the Test tree.

Australians might argue that Smith is currently the finest batsman in the world across all formats, and not without good reason. But it's a point that would be disputed fervently in the pubs and clubs of London and Leeds.

Because for England, Root really is the best batsman seen in living memory.

WATCH: Smith on ICC Cricketer of the Year win

There was outrage amongst the cricket community when he was recently left off the ten-man shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. In an Ashes-winning year no less.

The thing that makes Root so special to English eyes is the fact he is the first truly great multi-format batsman the country has produced.

Alastair Cook, for all the records he has broken in Test cricket, has never been a limited-overs master. He is very good at what he does – batting for long periods of time in Tests and passing landmark after landmark in the format.

Root, though, seems to be able to switch gear almost immediately regardless of the format or conditions. Whether it's a Test in Antigua, a Twenty20 international at Old Trafford or an ODI at Lord's, Root, this year at least, always seems to have scored runs.

WATCH: Smith tons up at the WACA

Across all three forms of the game this year, Root has amassed 2,228 runs. It's a phenomenal figure. But it is still a figure topped by Smith, who sits on 2,279.

Both players are special talents who look as though they will dominate international attacks for the foreseeable future.

Yet they are not alone. New Zealand's Kane Williamson has not only tracked Root and Smith every step of the way this year but has comfortably outscored both across all forms of the game – scoring an incredible 2,633 international runs in 2015.

WATCH: Smith doubles up at Lord's with huge knock

The remarkable thing is that Smith, Root and Williamson were all born within 18 months of each from June 1989 (Smith) to December 1990 (Root).

There's no doubt this holy trinity of modern batsmen are currently a class apart from anyone else in the game.

Indian fans will argue Virat Kohli should be in the same grouping but his figures across all formats in recent years just don't stack up.

But rather than get into petty arguments drawn across nationalistic lines, let's just appreciate Root, Smith and Williamson for the immense talents they are.

STEVE SMITH'S STAGGERING YEAR

• 1,474 Test runs at average of 73.70 with six tons
• Awarded ICC cricketer of the year and Test cricketer of the year
• Captained Australia to Test series wins over India, New Zealand and West Indies at home
• Australia's leading run-scorer in successful ODI World Cup campaign
• Maiden double-ton, which came at Lord's in second Ashes Test
• Man of the match in Tests at SCG, Kingston, Lord's and The Oval
• Declared at 70no in Boxing Day Test. Could have become the third Australian to score 1500 Test runs in a calender year
• Was one ton short of equalling Ricky Ponting's Australian record of seven Test tons in a year

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