Joe Root certainly occupies the front row among the present-generation batters, who are especially known for their skills in red-ball cricket. The English international has already completed a century of Test appearances since making his debut in the longest format in 2012, only one year after his first match at the County Championship.
Hailing from a cricketing background, Root was able to raise eyebrows with his stroke-playing ability and techniques during his college days. However, the international arena first recognised his talent in 2010 when Root put up a scintillating performance for England Under-19 against Bangladesh. The right-handed batter made a roaring Test debut as well, scoring a gritty 73 against India in Nagpur.
With Root celebrating his 33rd birthday today, on December 30, let’s take a look at the top five performances of the former English captain in the longest format.
254 vs Pakistan (Manchester, 2016)
Joe Root registered his highest score in Tests during a home game against Pakistan in 2016. In the first innings of the Manchester Test, Root showed nerves of steel as he survived almost 10 hours at the crease and scored 254 runs off 406 deliveries. His gritty knock was laced with as many as 27 boundaries. Root replicated his sublime form in the second innings where he made an unbeaten 73. The part-time spinner also got a wicket under his belt as England won the match by a huge margin of 330 runs.
226 vs New Zealand (Hamilton, 2019)
No matter in which situation he arrives at the crease, Joe Root can singlehandedly change the course of the game with his composure. The point was proved when the English top-order batter registered 226 runs during a high-voltage clash against New Zealand in 2019. Root took over the charge after England lost two early wickets in their first innings. He registered 226 runs off 441 balls, a knock that comprised 22 fours and one six. Root stitched an inning-reviving 177-run stand with opener Rory Burns, helping England post a mammoth 476 runs on the board.
218 vs India (Chennai, 2021)
One of Root’s five double-hundreds in Tests came in an overseas assignment against India two years ago. Coming in to bat on a sluggish surface at Chepauk, Root put up a dominant performance against the Indian spinners. He faced 377 balls during his marathon innings, scoring 218 runs. Root missed the half-century by just 10 runs in England’s second innings but the visitors picked up a 227-run win in the game.
190 vs South Africa (Lord’s, 2017)
This Lord’s Test against South Africa was no doubt an unforgettable occasion for Root, who recorded the highest score as an English batter in his maiden appearance as captain. Showing off his class and perfection, Root struck 190 runs off 234 runs during the opening innings. Thanks to his historic knock, Root could find a place on the Lord’s Honours Boards for the third time. After South Africa faced a batting collapse in the fourth innings, Root-led England secured a comprehensive 211-run win in the match.
180 vs Australia (Lord’s, 2013)
Joe Root became the youngest English player to notch an Ashes century at Lord’s when he played a 180-run knock against Australia in 2013. After being dismissed for 6 in the first innings, Root was desperate for a big score. He smashed 18 boundaries and 2 sixes during England’s second innings, wrapping up the game as the top performer for the hosts. Root also fetched two scalps in the fourth innings where Australia fell 347 runs short of a huge 583-run target.
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