Ashes 2021-22: Joe Root Breaks Graeme Smith's Long-Standing Record During MCG Test

England captain Joe Root added another feather to his record-setting calendar year as he went past former South African captain, Graeme Smith, to become the captain with the highest number of runs in a calendar year.

Smith had scored 1,656 runs during his peak back in 2008. During the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, Root managed to surpass the tally and now has 1,680 runs. The total is also the third-highest tally in Test cricket.

Only Mohammad Yousuf with 1,788 runs in 2006 and Vivian Richards with 1,710 runs in 1976 have scored more than the 30-year-old Englishman in a calendar year. Root still has a chance to set the all-time record but he needs 109 runs in his final innings of 2021 to break the record.

Joe Root’s 50 was the only saving grace in another dismal batting performance

Australia won the toss and asked their opponents to bat first on a spicy Melbourne pitch. As has been the case in the series so far, England’s openers were sent back early. Pat Cummins took both the wickets and he also came back towards the end of the first session to get Dawid Malan as well.

Root and Ben Stokes started out the second session quite circumspect in their approach. Root helped himself to his third half-century of the series but fell soon after to Mitchell Starc. Jos Buttler played a hideous shot at the stroke of Tea and Stokes also fell prey to Cameron Green.

The tail wagged a fair bit for the visitors with Ollie Robinson chipping in with a useful 22 but England could only manage 185 in their first essay. Although there is some assistance for the bowlers as one would expect on Australian pitches, the total is quite under-par.

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