At 34, Joe Root has entered rarefied air among the game’s greats. He now stands alongside the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and Kumar Sangakkara, becoming only the fifth batter in Test history to reach 37 centuries
Joe Root (Pic: AFP)
Resuming play on 99, Joe Root wasted no time, guiding the first ball of the morning, a slightly fortuitous edge off Jasprit Bumrah, through the gully for four to notch up his 37th Test century in style on the second day of the ongoing third Test between India and England at Lord’s on Friday. With this, the former England captain marked his 11th century against India and a record-extending eighth at Lord’s.
At 34, Root has entered rarefied air among the game’s greats. He now stands alongside the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and Kumar Sangakkara, becoming only the fifth batter in Test history to reach 37 centuries. The innings also marked his first hundred in the current five-Test series.
Root's dominance over India is unparalleled in the modern era. With this latest century, he joined Steve Smith at the top of the list for most Test hundreds against India, both now boasting 11. While Smith achieved the feat in 46 innings, Root has done so in 60. Their averages in these contests remain closely matched: Smith leads slightly with 58.90, while Root trails by a whisper at 58.73.
Root also etched his name into another elite category by becoming the first batter ever to amass over 3,000 Test runs against India. His consistent excellence across formats and years makes him a central figure in England’s modern cricket narrative. His ability to adapt across conditions and bowlers, particularly against India’s potent attack, speaks volumes about his technical mastery and mental fortitude.
Only three players in Test history have scored more centuries against a single opposition than Root and Smith have against India. Don Bradman’s astonishing 19 centuries against England tops that list, underlining the sheer dominance required to achieve such a feat. Still, Root’s record places him among the most prolific and consistent batters in the game’s longest format.
As Root continues to close in on Tendulkar’s monumental career tally of 15,921 runs, his journey is increasingly defined by not just volume, but impact. Whether it's anchoring an innings or accelerating when needed, Root remains England’s bedrock with the bat.
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