Ton-up Root saves the day

JOE ROOT got the biggest season of his career off to the perfect start with an unbeaten hundred for Yorkshire against Notts at Trent Bridge. The England captain scored 130 off 189 balls with 18 fours despite being hit on the helmet by Stuart Broad. ‘Being hit dented the ego slightly but you expect that from someone with 400 Test wickets,’ said Root (above). He shared a third-wicket stand of 253 with Gary Ballance, who contributed an unbeaten 101, as Yorkshire secured a draw. Two other England discards reached three figures, Ravi Bopara scoring 107 as Essex lost to Hampshire and Dawid Malan hitting 160 not out in Middlesex’s draw at Northants.