England vs Sri Lanka | Root continues to script history with 33rd Test century

Joe Root is the best English Test batter ever.

While it was just a phrase until yesterday (August 28), it has got a new meaning in the ongoing Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s. The Yorkshire man scaled new heights with a near-flawless century against a determined Sri Lankan bowling unit that tried to throw everything at the Three Lions’ man. 

It was business as usual in the way Root approached the innings at Lord’s while wickets tumbled around him. After being put to bat first, Sri Lanka made the best use of the conditions, removing both Dan Lawrence (9) and Ollie Pope (1) early in the innings, thus bringing an in-form Root out to the middle. 

Unfortunately, that was exactly when the sun beat down at Lord’s, making it easier for batters. But for Root, Test cricket, in itself, is a child’s play, even when the other batters tend to find it tough.

With the sun beating down, a certain Root made the most of it. The right-hander built a handy partnership with opener Ben Duckett (40) before joining forces with fellow Yorkshireman Harry Brook, who scored a quickfire 45-ball 33, where he smashed five boundaries. 

Root didn’t show mercy against any Sri Lankan bowler, especially against Prabath Jayasuriya, against whom he scored 39 off 45 deliveries, striking at 86.7. He didn’t spare Milan Rathnayake, too, scoring 26 off 37 deliveries. 

When Root touched 82, it was enough to take him past Sir Alastair Cook’s tally of most runs in England (6569). It wasn’t the only record that the Yorkshireman broke during day one of the Lord’s Test, with him surpassing Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s record of 96 fifty-plus scores. During the Test series against West Indies, Root also went past Chanderpaul’s tally of runs. 

But what makes all of this more ridiculous is how Root isn’t just the best English batter of all time but is the best amongst active Test cricketers, with 33 centuries, putting him on a pedestal that has never seen the day. 

Since 2021, in Test cricket, amongst all active cricketers, there is Root (16 centuries), Root in England (9 centuries), Kane Williamson (9 centuries), Root away (7 centuries) and all other cricketers. If only he had ended it there…. 

Here’s the list of records that Root broke during his stay at Lord’s:

Most Test runs in England

6592 - Joe Root*

6568 - Sir Alastair Cook

5917 - Graham Gooch

4716 - Mike Atherton

Most Test hundreds among active players

Joe Root - 33*

Steve Smith - 32

Kane Williamson - 32

Virat Kohli - 29

Most Test hundreds by an English batter

Joe Root - 33*

Sir Alastair Cook - 33

Kevin Pietersen - 23

Wally Hammond - 22

Fab 4 Test Hundreds since 2021

Joe Root - 16*

Kane Williamson - 9

Steve Smith - 6

Virat Kohli - 2

Most Test hundreds at Lord's 

Joe Root - 6*

Graham Gooch - 6

Michael Vaughan - 6

Kevin Pietersen - 5

Andrew Strauss - 5

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