JOE’S ON A Captain fantastic’s Root GLORIOUS RUN history books
SKIPPER GIVES SIDE THE LEAD TO CONTINUE INCREDIBLE YEAR
JOE ROOT lorded it over India’s bowlers as he rewrote history with another monumental innings. England were eventually bowled out for 391, with Root still standing firm on 180 not out. The captain hit back-to-back hundreds for the second time in 2021 to continue his incredible year.
Root had previously been criticised for his inability to turn 50s into three-figure scores. Now he’s doing it with ease – racking up five since January.
With six Tests still to come in 2021 – three against India and three in Australia – he could smash the record for runs in a calendar year.
That is held by Pakistan’s Mohammad Yousuf, who scored 1,788 runs in 2006.With 1,244 already in the bank, Root could sail past that total.
During this perfectly judged innings, he also brought up the milestone of 9,000 Test runs, becoming the second-youngest player to achieve the feat behind Alastair Cook.
Having helped earn England a 27-run lead, though, the captain will be more concerned with giving England a chance of winning their first home Test of the summer and ending their dismal recent run.
Root’s century partnership with Jonny Bairstow helped turn the game in England’s favour in front of packed Saturday crowd. Bairstow was caught at slip for 57 after gloving a bouncer to Kohli at slip.
But given his lack of red-ball cricket in recent years, it’s little wonder he has been happy with his efforts in this series so far.
Saturday, though, was all about Root – and when asked what the captain means to this England team, Bairstow didn’t hold back.
“A heck of a lot, like he does to English cricket,” said Bairstow. “To go into second place in the history of leading runscorers in the English game is very special.to pass 9,000
runs in this game is extremely special.to score another 180 not out at Lord’s, I run out of superlatives.”
Bairstow’s contribution was also vital. He has been in and out of the Test side in recent years but he looks determined to change all that.
And after scoring his first halfcentury since August 2019, when he made 52 against the Aussies at Lord’s, Bairstow is well on his way to re-establishing himself in the longest format.
The platform laid by the Yorkshire pair enabled England to build the kind of score that has been beyond them for most of the year.
In their past seven Tests, England have only twice posted scores of over 300.
But with Root in supreme touch, the Indian bowlers didn’t threaten for the first two sessions as England edged towards India’s firstinnings score of 364.
Root’s partnership of 44 with Jos Buttler and stand of 58 with Moeen Ali helped leave the game on a knife-edge.
Moeen was out caught at slip by Kohli for 28 when looking well set before Sam Curran became the second England player in the game to fall for a golden duck.
Root eventually nudged England in front with a boundary as the crowd belted out his name.
The run out of Markwood bought Jimmy Anderson to the wicket.
England’s bowling hero was peppered with bouncers by Jasprit Bumrah and was smashed on the helmet before being bowled by the final ball of the day.
By that time, Root had already delivered the sensational knockout blow.