Joe Root broke Alastair Cook's record for the most centuries for England in men's Test cricket with his second hundred of the match against Sri Lanka at Lord's today (August 31).
Root reached the milestone on day three of England's second Test against Sri Lanka, surpassing three figures to finish 103. It was a nervy final dash to the line from Root, after England lost their seventh and eighth wickets in quick succession. Doing his best to farm the strike with Olly Stone at the other end, Root scampered a two off the first ball of an over from Asitha Fernando to reach 98, and go past Graham Gooch as the leading run scorer in Tests at Lord's.
He was unable to get the ball away for the rest of the over, faced with short-pitched and leg side bowling from Fernando, leaving Stone to face six deliveries at the other end. Despite almost chopping on and being beaten by a peach from Prabath Jayasuriya, Stone survived to give Root back the strike for the following over. In another nervy moment, Root gloved the first ball of the over to just short of the keeper, almost spelling disaster. However, he stepped back and hammered Lahiru Kumara through the covers for four off the next delivery, jumping in the air in celebration as he ran through.
Joe Root now has the most Test hundreds for England. 👏
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) August 31, 2024
What a player. pic.twitter.com/k5OL6bgXXh
The century was Root's 34th in Test cricket, which is the most scored by any England player in the format. He scored his 33rd on day one of the Test, drawing level with Gooch and Michael Vaughan for the most Test hundreds at Lord's. His century today therefore makes him the sole holder of that record as well.
Root has also joined an exclusive club of players to score centuries in both innings of a Test match at Lord's. Previously, only George Headley, Gooch and Vaughan had achieved the feat, with Root now making it a club of four. Root is also the 78th player to score a century in each innings of Test at any venue.
England were eventually bowled out for 196 with a lead of 482. Root was the last wicket to fall, holing out to deep square leg.
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