England captain Joe Root is unstoppable. The struggles of his team notwithstanding, the year 2021 has been absolutely glorious for the man from Yorkshire with the bat, as he brings up his sixth century of the year, and third in three consecutive Tests, on Day 2 on his home ground at Headingley against India.
After carrying the batting of his side on his shoulders, for once, the top three gave their skipper a decent amount of time of rest in the dressing room, as he arrived at the score of 159/2 in the 63rd over.
Joe Root, in the imperious form he has been, wasn’t going to spare the Indian bowlers again – especially with the morale of the bowlers down, and a flatter surface. The right-hander kicked off his innings soon with a couple of boundaries on alternate deliveries in a single over of Mohammed Shami before lunch.
Root then, along with fellow Yorkshiremate Dawid Malan, batted throughout the second session with the left-hander getting out on the last ball before tea. He took on India’s lone spinner, Ravindra Jadeja, with cuts and sweeps, which had been the highlight of his tour to Asia earlier in the year.
He raced away to his fifty in 57 balls, before taking on the Indian pacers. Joe Root has become an elite batsman against pace in English conditions by playing late and under his eyes – the same masterclass was on display throughout the day.
The 30-year-old stroked the bowlers in all corners of the ground, using both his front foot and back foot, while occasionally cutting them behind square on the back foot. He scored even through India’s short-ball ploy finding boundaries with controlled pull shots.
Finally, Joe Root brought up his hundred – with a fine clip between mid-on and mid-wicket through to the fenced – in the 104th over, in 124 balls. He had his arms raised, let out a roar, jumped in the air paddling his legs, before hugging Jonny Bairstow, another Yorkshireman, while soaking in the raucous applause from the crowd.
With this century, Joe Root now equals Kevin Pietersen for the second-most Test hundreds for an England batsman – 23; Alastair Cook has 10 more.
Twitter once again erupted in jubilation for Joe Root’s sublime hundred:
Another ton for @root66 – if only he timed it as well as Luke Fletcher though, @robkey612 ?
— mark butcher (@markbutcher72) August 26, 2021
There’s no stopping of @root66 this English summer, the guy is in the form of his life!#ENGvsIND #AjayRatra #JoeRoot pic.twitter.com/7Tdbyh0YMG
— Ajay Ratra (@ajratra) August 26, 2021
Most centuries in Test cricket this year:
8 : Sri Lanka
7 : Bangladesh
7 : England
6 : Joe Root*
6 : Pakistan
4 : India
4 : New Zealand @vikrantgupta73 #ENGvsIND— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) August 26, 2021
And there’s another… Joe Root, you superstar.???
— Ian Bell (@Ian_Bell) August 26, 2021
That home ground hundred feeling ? #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/baoqfIZixD
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 26, 2021
Roooooooooooooottttt #ENGvsIND
— Tim Bresnan (@timbresnan) August 26, 2021
Rrrrrrrooooooooooootttttttttt .. ??????
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 26, 2021
It doesn't matter which team you are supporting. Cast that aside. This performance from Joe Root is that of a top player at the height of his power.and something to admire.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 26, 2021
228 v Sri Lanka, Galle
186 v Sri Lanka, Galle
218 v India, Chennai
109 v India, Trent Bridge
180* v India, Lord's
100* v India, HeadingleyA sixth Test hundred in 2021 for Joe Root. No Englishman has ever scored more in a calendar year.
We are witnessing something very special. pic.twitter.com/vbK8vxIXkE
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) August 26, 2021
6th hundred for Joe Root from 11 matches in 2021 in Test cricket – England captain leading from the front, one of the finest in this generation. pic.twitter.com/84WZLnz5c5
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 26, 2021
He has really taken his game to the next level this year. Well played @root66 ?? Class act?? #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/GxxkWYlQF1
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) August 26, 2021
*Maybe* Cook in 2010/11, but I don't think I've ever seen an England Test batsman in better nick than Joe Root this year/summer
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) August 26, 2021
Joe Root's first Test hundred at Headingley since his very first in Test cricket all the way back in 2013.#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/j4MvyYTdfz
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) August 26, 2021
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!
Yet another century by England’s Captain Fantastic @root66 – this time in front of his own devoted Yorkshire fans. Brilliant.
We’re watching a batting genius at work. #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/BUR0KfZMdi— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) August 26, 2021
#INDvENG
Joe Root since 2020 pic.twitter.com/PItuYalXfW— Shivani (@meme_ki_diwani) August 26, 2021
Virat Kohli last scored a Test Century on the 22nd of November 2019 against Bangladesh. Since then, Joe Root has scored 7 Test Centuries. And 3 of them were doubles ? #ENGvIND
— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) August 26, 2021
Also Read: The Middle Order Has To Take Responsibility If India Want To Win This Series – Madan Lal