Root proves his mastery
JOE ROOT said his superb century against South Africa will rank as the finest of his career — but only if England go on to complete a series-clinching victory.
His unbeaten 106 guided the tourists to 238 for five by the close, a 111-run fifth-wicket stand with Ben Stokes helping Alastair Cook’s side to within 75 runs of South Africa’s first innings 313.
Asked if this knock would mean more than his twin Ashes hundreds last summer, Root said: ‘Yes. But we’re going to have to do a lot of hard work to get a positive result and the rest of this innings is going to be crucial. We’ll have to build some strong partnerships if we want to get a lead. Then we can put South Africa under pressure.’
Root, who failed to convert 10 of his 13 half-centuries last year, added: ‘There was quite a lot of relief when I managed to get past three figures. So now’s the time to push on and make a big one.’
How important his ninth Test century was on a gripping second day. He kept England very much in the hunt just when the hosts were sensing superiority. Root’s only fragility was a body struggling to cope with the demands of being such an important figure in this new England side rather than anything in his imperious strokeplay.
Pestered by a back condition, he hobbled with cramp to his unbeaten 106 in the face of a home attack who smelt blood before bad light and rain halted play early.
But he didn’t rescue England on his own from the perils of 91 for four. Alongside him in a brilliant counter-attack with their side on the ropes was Stokes.
South Africa, so menacing in the early stages of the England innings, started to wilt and 111 runs flew off just 95 balls, Root matching the pace set by Stokes.
The man who smashed the fastest Test 250 in history at Cape Town pulled Kasigo Rabada for six off just his fifth ball — and lightning looked as if it might strike twice as nine fours then flew from his bat.
Yet, just as everyone was wondering whether he could do it again, Morne Morkel got his man off a leading edge. He was embraced by Faf du Plessis, with South Africa reacting as if they were already victors and level with one Test to play.
They are not there yet, though, thanks to Root’s ability to rise to the occasion.
It wasn’t quite flawless because his running between the wickets, while seemingly hindered by injury, led to a few nervous moments.
Morkel would have run him out at the non-striker’s end had he touched a drive from Stokes that clattered into the stumps. That would have been a cruel way for Root’s contribution to end and, the longer his innings went on, the more he seemed destined to reach three figures rather than fall between 50 and 100 yet again.
If he is to go on to be a true great, there will have to be many more centuries, yet even if he scores another 20, few will surely be as good as this one against four bowlers all regularly exceeding 90mph.
It must concern England, though, that South Africa’s bowling was on a different level even in the absence of Dale Steyn, who still hopes to be fit for Centurion next week.
The below-par bowling here of England’s big guns was emphasised when Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad allowed the hosts to add another 46 runs to surpass the figure of 300 that means so much here.
Jonny Bairstow took two more catches to feature in seven of the 10 dismissals but dropped Morkel to miss out on what would have been a record-equalling seventh catch.
Yet the morning’s play will be remembered for an unsavoury flashpoint when Anderson was ordered out of the attack by umpire Aleem Dar for running on the pitch after, apparently, two earlier warnings.
Stokes stepped into his shoes to claim Morkel’s wicket off the next ball but Anderson exchanged heated words with Dar before marching off.
Hardus Viljoen then became the 20th bowler to take a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket as he claimed Cook’s scalp.
By that stage, Alex Hales had gone and Nick Compton and James Taylor were soon to follow.
Yet, cometh the hour, cometh Root and Stokes — and England now need their vice-captain to add as many as he can muster today, with a lead imperative if they are to clinch the series here.