It Will Mean A Hell Of A Lot More If We Can Get A Result From This Game: Joe Root

England captain Joe Root looked a satisfied man after a day where he and opener Dom Sibley dominated the proceedings with a brilliant 200-run-stand for the third wicket which has put his team in a pole position in the first Test at the Chepauk against Virat Kohli’s men.

Root, who is playing his 100th Test match, has successfully carried his form from the Sri Lanka series to India, as the 30-year-old put on a clinic on how to play spin bowling in Asian conditions.

Having joined Dom Sibley at the crease following the loss of two quick wickets at the stroke of Lunch, the England captain, along with the former, stitched an imperious 200-run-stand, rendering the Indian bowling attack toothless on what has turned out to be a pretty flat surface in Chennai.

Joe Root was, however, heartbroken with the fact that he lost his partner Dom Sibley [87] on what turned out to be the last ball of the day courtesy of Jasprit Bumrah. The English captain struggled with cramps at the backend of the day but he is confident of coming out fresh on the second morning.

Joe Root said that while England has done well on the first day, he realizes the importance of cashing in on the platform and stitch a really big first-innings total on a pitch that he expects to offer a lot more to the bowlers as the game progresses than what it has currently.

”It’s (the leg) feeling alright, got a bit cramped there towards the end. I have to get some fluids in and I could do that overnight. Really pleased with the position we have got ourselves into, bit of a shame to lose Dom (Sibley) towards the end. We have to make use of a strong first day. I always felt it is going to play well. It is an unusual looking surface, but it certainly played really well. It is a bit on the slower side and I feel like it will spin as the game goes on, little bit of reverse swing as the day unfolded. It was a good contest and India have some good bowlers, made us work hard for our runs. It is a good first day but we know we have to back it up with something similar. I was just trying to get used to the surface,” Joe Root said in the post-match interview.

This is Joe Root’s third Test hundred in five innings this year and the latest one has made him just the 9th batsmen in the history of the game to score a ton in his 100th Test. Root, however, is focused on the job at hand, and he is hoping that his runs help England come out on the right side of the result.

”I wanted to take away the threat as much as possible and the more I got used to the surface, I found a little bit easier. The longer you stay out there the easier it becomes. I am a firm believer that your next hundred is your best hundred. It will mean a hell of a lot more if we can get a result from this game. To get a hundred in my 100th Test is special but I hope there is more to come tomorrow and it helps to put up a substantial first innings total. It was actually quite a nice day today, nice breeze throughout. I don’t think I took enough fluids today. Got to make up for it, eat and rest well tonight,” he added.

Also Read: Twitter Reacts After Joe Root And Dom Sibley Partnership Puts England In A Pole Position Against India