- By Vishal Pushkar
- Wed, 09 Oct 2024 04:20 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Former England skipper Joe Root smashed an unbeaten century after overtaking Alastair Cook as country's top run-scorer in test cricket and guided the team to 351-3 at tea on the third day of their opening match against Pakistan on Wednesday.
Root began the day on 32 not out, needing a further 39 runs to eclipse Cook's tally of 12,472, and the former captain eased to his target with an on-drive for four off Aamer Jamal before soaking up loud applause from the travelling English fans.
He then fought off cramps after lunch to bring up his 35th century with a reverse-sweep as England trailed by 205 runs when the session ended with Root batting on 119 and Harry Brook not out on 64 after Ben Duckett's quick-fire 84.
With his latest century, former Root has surpassed legendary players such as Brian Lara, Sunil Gavaskar, Mahela Jayawardene, and Younis Khan in the list of players with the most centuries in Test cricket. Root now sits at the sixth position, with 35 centuries, and has Indian legend Rahul Dravid (36 tons) next in his sights.
Root's ton came after Pakistan posted a massive 556 runs in their first innings. Walking in to bat early on the second day, Root looked at ease throughout his stay at the crease, setting numerous records along the way. Among his notable achievements, Root became the first player to cross the 5000-run mark in the World Test Championship (WTC), a feat no other batter has managed since the competition began in 2019.
Root got to his fifty earlier with an inside edge and the 33-year-old survived a loud lbw appeal to go past Cook's record and into the top-five in the all-time list behind Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar.
