Root becomes first non-Asian to achieve a rare feat

You thought that Joe Root was done scoring on day three of the first Test here in Multan?

That’s what Pakistan would have assumed, too, when the 33-year-old was visibly tired tackling the heat. But what Root wasn’t tired of was scoring runs, as he continued day four in the same manner as day three. After finishing day three on 176, Root started day four in a sedate manner. 

But three overs into the day, Root released the pressure when he effortlessly drove the ball between mid-on and mid-wicket for a four. That boundary took him past 20,000 international runs, making him the 13th player in the club and the only Englishman. 

Screenshot courtesy: Fancode

Pakistan had a real opportunity to end their misery when Babar Azam was offered the simplest of catches. However, the former Pakistan skipper dropped a dolly at short mid-wicket in a comical fashion to leave Naseem Shah visibly annoyed. To make things worse, Root immediately responded with a stunning cover drive. 

Root was offered the easiest route to a 200, with part-time off-spinner Salman Ali Agha bowling. Four balls into Afgha’s eight over, Root tucked one behind square to bring up his sixth double-century in Test cricket, one behind England’s legendary Wally Hammond, who still holds the English record. 

But what set Root’s double century apart was that he became the first non-Asian batter in the 147-year history of Test cricket to score a double century in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Root scored 228 in Galle back in 2021 and then smashed 218 in Chennai against India the same year.

He also became the third player to have double centuries in all three countries, joining the duo of Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene and India’s Virender Sehwag.

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