Watch: Joe Root pays classy tribute to Graham Thorpe after smashing 39th Test century in Oval Test

England National Cricket Team modern-day batting great Joe Root decimated the India National Cricket Team with his stellar hundred in the fifth Test match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025.

After completing his 39th Test century, Joe Root came up with a classy gesture as he was seen paying a lovely tribute to Graham Thorpe.

Also Read: Watch: Harry Brook sends bat flying, gets out in Rishabh Pant fashion after destroying India in Oval Test

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Joe Root hits a stunning century

The 34-year-old Root once again showed why he is the best Test batter in the world by playing a match-winning knock in the series finale of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025.

Joe Root didn't start off the series on a great note, but as it progressed, he kept getting better and ended with a remarkable century.

England were given a big target of 374 runs to chase in the final innings of the fifth Test, and Root took the responsibility of being a senior batter and played an exceptional knock.

He built a crucial partnership with Harry Brook that pushed India completely out of the game, and even after losing his teammate, he kept batting brilliantly.

He eventually completed his century by taking a double off Akash Deep on the first ball of the 69th over. After reaching the landmark, Root took off his helmet and raised his bat towards the dressing room.

Then, he brought out a headband, wore it to pay a classy tribute to Graham Thorpe by pointing a finger towards the heavens in homage. It was the 39th ton for Root in Test cricket.

Most Test hundreds:

51 - Sachin Tendulkar (IND)

45 - Jacques Kallis (SA)

41 - Ricky Ponting (AUS)

39 - Joe Root (ENG)*

38 - Kumar Sangakkara (SL)

Watch: Joe Root pays classy tribute to Graham Thorpe

The headband straight on ❤️

"England's present No. 4 will never forget England's previous No. 4, that meant so much to him."

🤝 @IGcom pic.twitter.com/MnPzz4vQmQ

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 3, 2025

Notably, the legendary Graham Thorpe died by suicide on August 4, 2024, after being hit by a train at Esher railway station in Surrey at the age of 55. His death followed a prolonged struggle with depression and anxiety. To honor his memory, a “Day for Thorpey” was scheduled during the fifth Test between England and India, coinciding with what would have been his 56th birthday.

He was an outstanding team-mate, a cherished player - Michael Atherton

Players and fans wore the white headbands to pay tribute to Graham Thorpe during the fifth Test at Kennington Oval in London.

Speaking on Sky Sports, former England skipper Michael Atherton said that his ex-teammate Thorpe was an outstanding and cherished player. He elaborated:

"He was an outstanding team-mate, a cherished player and a much-loved part of a team that was not particularly successful but one that had a connection with the cricketing public. If any small good can come out of what has happened it is raising money for a very important connection between cricket and mental health.

"There has been a long history of the game taking you into dark places as there is a lot of waiting and thinking.

"It is probably only in the last 20 years, since the publication of Marcus Trescothick's book, that people have felt able to talk about it. I think after Graham's playing career ended and we sat down with him I did start to sense that vulnerabilities but I don't think any of us realised how significant they were."