New Delhi: Stranded on the dreaded score of 99, Joe Root showed no signs of nerves and completed the century on the very first ball of Day 2 of the third Test between England and India at Lord’s. The iconic batter got the job done straightaway, albeit in a streaky fashion, as he reached the three-figure mark via a thick edge that flew past the gully and raised his 37th century.
Root surpassed legendary Indian batter Rahul Dravid and Aussie icon Steve Smith’s tally of 36 centuries and broke into the top five for most centuries in Test cricket. He is now just one century away from equalling Kumar Sangakkara’s record of 38 tons. Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar tops the list with 51 hundreds, followed by South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis (45) and Australian legend Ricky Ponting (41).
Most Test hundreds
51 – Sachin Tendulkar
45 – Jacques Kallis
41 – Ricky Ponting
38 – Kumar Sangakkara
37 – Joe Root
This was Root’s 11th century against India, which is the joint-most alongside Steve Smith. While Root took 60 innings to achieve the mark, Smith completed the feat in 46 innings. He also became only the third batter to score three successive centuries at Lord’s alongside Jack Hobbs (1912-26) and Michael Vaughan (2004-05).
Bumrah continues remarkable run against Root
Root, however, couldn’t go on to get a big score after being dismissed for 104 by Jasprit Bumrah in the fifth over of the day. The Indian speedster outfoxed Root with an inswinger, which crashed onto the middle stump after taking an inside edge off the bat.
Bumrah continued his superb run against Root, dismissing him for the 11th time – the most Root has been dismissed by a bowler in Tests, alongside Australia skipper Pat Cummins.
Root’s wicket came during a sensational spell which saw Bumrah castle England skipper Ben Stokes with a beautiful inswinger. Stokes, who was a doubtful starter after struggling with his groin on Day 1, was dismissed on 44.
Meanwhile, suspense surrounding Rishabh Pant’s injury continued after the Delhi wicket-keeper batter didn’t take the field on Day 2. Pant suffered a finger injury in the 33rd over of the day and gave way to Dhruv Jurel to keep wickets.