Joe Root has once again made history at Lord’s Cricket Ground by becoming the highest run-scorer at the venue across all formats. Playing his 33rd match at the historic ground, Root now has 2526 runs to his name, surpassing Graham Gooch’s previous record of 2513 runs.
His latest performance also brought up his 103rd fifty-plus score in Test cricket, which includes 36 centuries and 67 fifties. This achievement places him in joint second position alongside Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting on the all-time list. Only Sachin Tendulkar, with 119 fifty-plus scores, is ahead of them.
First Player to Score 3000 Test Runs Against India
Root has also created history by becoming the first player to score 3000 Test runs against India. With his total now at 3054 runs in 33 matches, which includes 10 centuries, he joins an elite list of batters to have scored over 3000 runs in a non-Ashes rivalry.
The other two players in this category are Gary Sobers, who scored 3214 runs against England, and Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 3630 runs against Australia. Joe Root is also close to another significant achievement.
If he scores a century in his current innings, it would be his 37th in Test cricket, placing him above Steve Smith and Rahul Dravid, both of whom have 36 centuries. This would make Root the fifth-highest century-maker in Test history. It would also be his 55th century in international cricket, equaling Hashim Amla’s tally.
England Ends Day Strong with Root on 99 Not Out
At the end of the third session, England finished the day at 251/4. Root remained unbeaten on 99 while captain Ben Stokes was on 39. After a balanced first session where Nitish Kumar Reddy took two wickets, England took control in the next two sessions.
They played more cautiously than usual, avoiding their typical ‘Bazball’ style. England began the final session at 153/2 with Root and Ollie Pope steady at the crease. Ravindra Jadeja ended their 109-run partnership by dismissing Pope for 44.
Soon after, Jasprit Bumrah bowled Harry Brook for 11. England reached 200 with a single from Stokes off Mohammed Siraj, and the Stokes-Root pair carefully took the team to the end of play without further loss, with Root just one run away from another century.
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