Unbeaten ton from Root puts England in lead

ENGLAND captain Joe Root reeled off his fifth century of the year at Lord’s, standing head and shoulders above the crowd and changing the face of the second LV= Insurance Test against India.

After his match-saving hundred at Trent Bridge last week, Root went big again at the home of cricket, undefeated through the entire third day to finish on 180 not out.

England reached 391 all out on the back of his stunning efforts, enough for a lead of 27 that had looked fanciful after India dominated the first day, and Root’s own average tipped back above 50 as a result.

Since turning 30 in December Root has been in revelatory form, with knocks of 228 and 186 on the turning tracks of Galle, 218 against India in Chennai and 109 under serious pressure in the rain-affected draw at Nottingham.

Among Englishmen only Denis Compton and Michael Vaughan have scored more hundreds in a calendar year and, with three more Tests remaining this summer, his current purple patch suggests he could join them on six sooner rather than later.

His latest instalment was another high-class example of his craft, resuming on his overnight score of 48 not out and adding another 132 in the next six and a half hours at the crease.

Control was the hallmark of Root’s innings, absorbing everything India threw at him on a serene surface and collecting 18 boundaries in the course of a 321-ball epic.

Root and fellow Yorkshireman Jonny Bairstow resumed with the score at 119 for three and proceeded to consign their opponents to a wicketless first session.

Bairstow went for 57, but Root coasted through stands of 54 and 58 with Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali, who both hit a couple of pleasing strokes before getting stuck. Ishant exploited a big gap between Buttler’s bat and pad to bowl him for 23, while Moeen managed an entertaining flurry before tea only to retreat entirely after the break.

Ishant eventually snared his outside edge for 27 and condemned another left-handed all-rounder, Sam Curran, to a first-ball duck.

Siraj had Ollie Robinson lbw for six before Root was partly responsible for Mark Wood’s run-out for five moments later.

Root produced some late fireworks before James Anderson (0) was bowled off the last delivery of the day, leaving Root fittingly unbeaten.