England Test captain, Joe Root became only the 9th player in Test cricket history to notch up a ton in his 100th Test match when the right-hander belted the Indian bowlers on Friday in Chennai.
Joe Root joins the elite list which includes Colin Cowdrey, Javed Miandad, Gordon Greenidge, Alec Stewart, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Ricky Ponting, Graeme Smith, and Hashim Amla: these batsmen scored a three-digit score in their centenary Test; former Australian captain, Ricky Ponting recorded hundreds in both the innings of his 100th Test against South Africa.
After not making a single Test ton in 2020, Joe Root has started 2020 with a bang smashing three hundreds in three Tests. After scoring a double hundred and a hundred on the raging turners in Galle against Sri Lanka, the right-hander has stamped his authority over the Indian bowlers in Chennai. His ton on Friday also pushed his average over 50.
England on top after Joe Root’s ton by the end of Day 1 in Chennai
Joe Root won the toss and elected to bat first. Before the start of the play, Root was presented his 100th Test cap by vice-captain, Ben Stokes – the Yorkshireman becomes the 15th player to make 100 Test appearances for the Three Lions.
The first session was shared as England let the advantage slip away with two quick wickets after an opening stand of 63 runs. Rory Burns got out playing an unnecessary reverse sweep while Dan Lawrence was given lbw off Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling.
However, Joe Root joined hands with opener, Dom Sibley and both put on an exemplary display of tackling the Indian bowlers. Joe Root eschewed his sweep shot for more than 50 balls, but then played it consistently after setting himself in.
Sibley, taking cues from Root’s batting in Sri Lanka, also played the Indian spinners emphatically – like his captain, Sibley either committed forward or rocked on the back foot.
While Joe Root brought up his 20th Test ton, Dom Sibley, unfortunately, was dismissed by Bumrah on 87 in the last over of the day. The visitors end the day on top at the score of 263/3 – Root remains unbeaten on 128, Sibley’s wicket will give India some relief walking back in the dressing room.