The former England captain and batsman Joe Root has once again showcased his composed and tenacious demeanor by notching up his 31st Test century in the fourth match of the ongoing five-match series against India.
Amidst discussions surrounding Joe Root’s performance in the ongoing Test series against India, questions have been asked about his adaptation to England’s new cricketing strategies. In the initial six innings, Root, a key player in England’s batting lineup and a member of the Fab Four batters, faced difficulties, making only 77 runs without a single half-century. Criticism was also directed at his shot selection during this time. However, Root replied to the skeptics with a remarkable comeback in the fourth Test in Ranchi, where he crafted a composed century.
Known for his methodical approach to building innings, Root showed just that in Ranchi today as he notched up his 31st Test century and his 10th Test century against India, making him the player with the most centuries against India. Root has regularly performed well against India in Test cricket, and this century has marked a significant return to form. His aggressive style in the series had drawn criticism after low scores, but his innings in Ranchi has silenced the critics.
Before the fourth Test, Root had only made 77 runs in six innings, averaging 12.83. However, with this innings, he has revived his former form and approach. Michael Vaughan praised him as he hit his half-century in 108 balls, noting that the ‘Commonsense-Ball is back.’ Completing his century in 219 balls, Root’s slow but steady knock came at a crucial time for England, as they were fighting at 112/5 by the end of the first session.
Players with the most Test centuries against India:
Joe Root – 10 centuries in 52 innings
Steve Smith – 9 centuries in 37 innings
Gary Sobers – 8 centuries in 30 innings
Viv Richards – 8 centuries in 41 innings
Ricky Ponting – 8 centuries in 51 innings
Joe Root has now notched up an impressive 10 centuries against India in Test cricket, making him the record holder in this regard. Steve Smith closely follows with 9 centuries, while cricket legends Sir Garry Sobers, Sir Viv Richards, and Ricky Ponting have each scored 8 against India in the longest format. Notably, this century also marked Root’s 13th against India across all formats, trailing just behind Steve Smith and Ricky Ponting, who have 14 each.
Root’s recent success is attributed to his display of remarkable patience and resilience in his innings, a departure from the earlier Tests where he seemed to throw away his wicket. Experts had advised him to abandon a more aggressive approach and revert to his natural game. Root’s strength lies in his ability to play cautiously and sensibly, making him a formidable batsman to dismiss. His 31st century in Test cricket was achieved with a display of nine well-timed fours.
Comments 1