Joe Root’s masterful 150 took him up to second on the all-time Test run-scorers’ list and gave England complete control over India at the end of day three of the fourth Test at Old Trafford.
By reaching 31, Root overtook India great Rahul Dravid and legendary South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis, and in continuing beyond 120, he went past former Australia captain Ricky Ponting.
His century was his 38th in Tests and it ground down a poor and beleaguered India as England reached 544-7 at the close, leading by 186.
After escaping a run-out chance on 22, Root’s latest triumph was chanceless.
He put on 144 with Ollie Pope and after Pope fell for 71 and Harry Brook for three – both to Washington Sundar in quick succession – Root shared a stand of 142 with Ben Stokes.
Their partnership was broken when Stokes retired hurt on 66 with cramp in the evening session and Root was struggling with a similar issue when he was finally stumped off Ravindra Jadeja shortly after.
Stokes returned to end the day 77 not out alongside Liam Dawson who is unbeaten on 21.
The hosts now have two days to complete the victory that would give them an unassailable 3-1 series lead.
Brilliant Root puts England on course
That this series has been so epic has been because whenever either side has been on top, the other has found a way to strike back. This was the day that finally ended.
Another Root epic ensured England had a near-perfect day, giving them hope of batting once and completing an innings victory.
When Root resumed on 11, England were still 133 behind in a strong but by no means secure position. When Brook fell they were still nine in arrears.
Root benefited from India captain Shubman Gill’s curious delay in introducing Sundar and the injury to Bumrah. India’s premier quick twisted his ankle walking down the stairs from the dressing room and was only able to bowl one over with the second new ball.
None of that should take away from Root’s brilliance, however.
The Lancashire crowd stridently cheered each of the Yorkshireman’s three milestones, with Ponting commentating for television when his haul was passed.
Though some rain is forecast over the weekend, the turn for Jadeja for the delivery that dismissed Root, plus significant low bounce from one end, should give England plenty of assistance when their attentions turn to dismissing India.
How Root took down the legends
Root is now 2,512 runs away from replacing India legend Sachin Tendulkar as Test cricket’s highest run-scorer. At his current rate of scoring, he will get there in 25 Tests.
This innings was the 34-year-old’s career rolled into one.
He accumulated with nudges, drove through the covers and played exquisite reverse sweeps against India’s spin.
Having batted through the morning session with Root, Pope nicked Sundar to slip in the off-spinner’s second over after lunch. Sundar found significant drift away from the right-handers – it also did for Brook who was beaten on the outside edge and stumped – but Root remained unflustered throughout that crucial spell.
It took him three overs to move from 98 to 100 but when he reached three figures he did so with a flick to fine leg. He passed Ponting with a trademark dab through point.
Stokes, batting as well as he has for a significant period, took time to get going against Washington and was just breaking free – he hit one extraordinary switch hit for four off Jadeja – when he started to become hampered by cramp.
After he retired hurt, Smith nicked Bumrah behind and Chris Woakes was bowled by one that kept horribly low from Siraj.
Returning to further cheers after an hour in dressing room, Stokes will be eyeing a first Test hundred since the Lord’s Ashes Test of July 2023. (BBC)
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