Root levels Waugh, Smith and Williamson with 32nd Test ton

Joe Root notched up the 32nd hundred of his Test career in the ongoing second Test against West Indies at Trent Bridge. It is a monumental ton from Root, leveling him up with Steve Waugh, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson in terms of most Test hundreds. During the innings, he also went past Shivnarine Chanderpaul on the list of most Test runs. 

Out for 122, Root is now eighth on the top run-getters list, only 13 runs behind Brian Lara (11,953). 

Root’s innings was critical to the cause of England, who began the second innings 41 runs behind West Indies. 

The former England captain walked out to bat on Day 3 when West Indies had their tail up, having dismissed Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett within a space of three overs. 

Root and Harry Brook added 189 runs there onwards while batting in contrasting styles. While Brook took the attack on the opposition, Root batted with a measured approach, taking 158 balls to reach the three-figure mark. Moreover, he only scored 32.7% of his runs in boundaries, the joint lowest for him among his seven hundreds since Brendon McCullum took over as head coach. 

Root has two Test hundreds this year, both times scoring 122 (122* against India in Ranchi) at the same boundary percentage of 32.7%. 

Both these hundreds have come since the 33-year-old has gone back to his older tempo post his embarrassing dismissal against Jasprit Bumrah trying to play a reverse scoop in Rajkot. 

Root played this particular shot in this innings as well, but only after completing his ton and assessing the need for quick runs. 

Staying true to his methods, Root almost didn’t score anything down the ground. Instead, he had 30% of his runs square of the wicket in the off-side, playing the square drive (25.8% of his runs against pace) and opening the face of the bat while defending on the front foot (12.4% of his runs). 

West Indies kept the boundary ropes guarded in the third-man region. Consequently, Root scored only four fours in that region but mustered plenty of singles and doubles. 

Root’s innings helped England set West Indies a target of 385 in Nottingham. He received applause from the West Indies' players while walking back after his dismissal.

With this hundred, Root is now only one century behind Sir Alastair Cook’s tally of 33 hundreds, the most for England in Test history. He is also only 532 runs behind Cook in terms of the overall run tally.

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