Joe Root. (Source – Getty Images)
Coming into bat with England having lost an early wicket in their pursuit of closing in on Pakistan’s first innings total of 556, it was always going to be an uphill task for ex-English skipper, Joe Root. However, he navigated his time in the middle with utmost perfection. Root quickly grew into his innings and grasped anything loose by the scruff of the neck to capitalize completely.
The final delivery of the 42nd over saw an immaculate cover drive executed by Root to extend his Test cricket tally to 12,473 runs, thereby surpassing the legendary Alastair Cook to become the leading run-getter for his country in the format. Speaking to Sky Sports, former England cricketer, Michael Atherton was pleased with how Root brought up the historic milestone.
“I was so thrilled that he got it with a classic Root-like shot. If you think in your mind’s eye of the best of Root, you are thinking back-foo punch, maybe a run down to third-man but the way he plays those drives down the ground. It was a gorgeous shot to get there. What a lovely moment,” stated Atherton.
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He is one of our best players if not the best player we have had: Atherton
The cricketer-turned-commentator also recounted Root’s debut that he made against India in 2012, admitting that he had had a feeling ever since then about Root possibly becoming one of England’s finest.
“Twelve years of excellence. That is exactly what it has been. I was there in Nagpur, I thought ‘This is going to be one of our greats’, but you still have to do it. You have to turn potential into performance and it is hard to think of a time when his form has dropped off. He has been so consistent over the years and he has done it in a way that is so pleasing. He is an absolute champion. He is one of our best players, if not the best player we have had,” added Atherton.
Later in the day, Root successfully brought up his 35th Test ton in Tests. He surpassed (for no. of Test centuries) the likes of Mahela Jayawardene, Brian Lara, Sunil Gavaskar, and Younis Khan in the process.