BUILDER JOE’S NAILING THE TON & GROOVE
‘Beyond superlatives’ Root hits 180 to build platform
JOE ROOT lorded it over India’s bowlers as he re-wrote history with another monumental innings.
England were eventually bowled out for 391, with Root still standing firm on 180 not out.
The England captain hit back-toback hundreds for the second time in 2021 to continue his incredible run so far this year.
Root had previously been criticised for his inability to turn his 50s into three-figure scores.
Now he’s doing it with ease – racking up five of them since January.
With six Tests still to come in 2021 – three against India and three in Australia – he could smash the record for the highest number of runs ever scored in a calendar year.
That is currently held by Pakistan’s Mohammad Yousuf, who got 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 his side a 27run 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.
As well as getting points on the board in the second edition of the World Test Championship.
Root’s century partnership with
Jonny Bairstow helped turn the game in
England’s favour in front of packed crowd.
Bairstow was eventually caught at slip for 57 after gloving a bouncer to Kohli at slip.
But given the lack of red-ball cricket he has played in recent years, it’s little wonder he has been happy with his efforts in this series so far.
Yesterday 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,” he said.
“To go into second place in the history of leading run scorers 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 has been in and out of the England Test side, but he looks determined to change all that.
And after scoring his first half-century since August 2019 the 31-year-old is well on his way to re-establishing himself in the longest format. The Yorkshire pair enabled England to build the kind of score that has been beyond them for most of the year.
But the Indian bowlers didn’t threaten for the first two sessions as England edged towards India’s first innings score of 364.
Root’s partnership of 44 with Jos Buttler and a stand of 58 with Moeen Ali, has helped to leave the game on a knife-edge with two days remaining.
Moeen (left) was out caught at slip by Kohli off Ishant Sharma for 28 when looking well set before Sam Curran became the second England player in the game to fall for a golden duck after Haseeb Hameed.
The late run-out of Mark Wood brought Jimmy Anderson to the wicket.
England’s bowling hero was peppered with bouncers by Jasprit Bumrah and smashed on the helmet before being bowled by the final ball of the day.
By that time, Root had already delivered the knockout blow.