In 2014, Martin Crowe Predicted Cricket’s Future. Now, One of His Fab Four Is Naming the Next.
A decade ago, Martin Crowe changed the cricketing conversation.
The late New Zealand legend, known for his vision as much as his batting genius, coined the term “Fab Four”—a group of young batters who, he believed, would define the next generation of Test cricket: Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson.
At the time, it felt like a stretch. They were just kids with promise. But history proved Crowe right. The Fab Four went on to rule every format, every continent, and every stat sheet. They became faces of the sport.
But now? That chapter is closing.
Kohli has retired from Tests and T20Is. Smith has bowed out of ODIs. Root and Williamson no longer lead their sides. And in a poetic full-circle moment, Kane Williamson—the last of the Fab Four still standing—has stepped up to name their successors.
His picks are bold, modern, and fiercely Gen Z: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rachin Ravindra, Harry Brook, and Cameron Green.
This time, it’s not the Fab Four.
It’s the Fab Five.
And it reflects how cricket has evolved. These aren’t just run-machines—they’re high-pressure performers shaped by IPL fire, social media scrutiny, and relentless formats. Kane calls them the future, not just for their skill, but for their mindset. They play with intent. Presence. Aura.
From Martin Crowe’s prophecy in 2014 to Kane Williamson’s torch-passing in 2025, cricket’s story has come full circle.
The kings of the last decade have spoken. Now, the new era begins.
