In an impressive display of form and determination, England’s Joe Root overtook Alastair Cook’s record for the most Test hundreds scored by an English cricketer, marking a significant milestone in cricket history on Saturday, August 31.
Root’s innings was nothing short of masterful. Batting at Lord’s, he scored 103 off just 121 deliveries during the third day of the Test match, propelling England to a towering score of 483 runs against Sri Lanka. This feat marked Root’s 34th Test century, surpassing Cook’s longstanding record of 33 centuries that had made him England’s most prolific batsman in Test history.
The cricketing world was quick to react to this iconic moment, with none more notable than Alastair Cook himself. Cook, who has often been lauded for his own remarkable career, was full of praise for his former teammate. “He is quite simply England’s greatest, and it’s absolutely right that he should have this record, on his own,” Cook stated during his commentary for BBC’s Test Match Special. “Take it in, Joe. We are watching a genius.”
Cook’s admiration for Root didn’t stop there. Reflecting on Root’s career, Cook noted, “I don’t think there’s a batsman that I can remember watching play [who shares] the sense of inevitability about scoring runs that Joe Root gives off. I called it when he was on about 6 today, that he was going to get 100. I know he’s in great form, but it’s just a pleasure to watch a master, a craftsman at work.”
Interestingly, Cook’s initial impression of Root was not as glowing. Recalling Root’s early days, Cook mentioned their encounter during Root’s List-A debut for Yorkshire against Essex in 2009. “He couldn’t get the ball off the square,” Cook remembered. “Everyone said, ‘he’s a good player,’ but I didn’t see that.”
Despite a less-than-stellar debut, Root quickly grew into his potential.
. By 2012, just three years after Cook’s initial impression, Root’s talents became unequivocal. During England’s tour of India in Nagpur, Root made his Test cricket debut in a match that had immense stakes. “I saw someone mentally ready to play Test cricket,” Cook recounted. “The only check was when he walked out to bat for the first time, how he would handle it.”
Cook reminisces vividly about Root’s debut innings, a moment that left an indelible impression on him. “The game was in the balance and he walked out to bat with his England cap on, looking 13, massive smile on his face,” Cook detailed. “I watched his first few balls, and I was like, ‘This bloke is here to stay.’ I honestly said, ‘He’s scoring 10,000 runs.’ I don’t know who I said it to, but I know that I said it.”
Root’s rise to the pinnacle of English cricket has been nothing short of meteoric. From that debut match in India, where he batted with a composure far beyond his years, to this historic day at Lord’s, Root has continually proved his critics wrong and thrilled his fans. Known for his ability to adapt to various cricketing conditions and his consistency across different formats of the game, Root’s career has been a model of excellence.
While Cook once held the title of England’s highest run-scorer, Root’s remarkable journey and his new record have solidified his stature as one of the cricket greats. His latest century not only broke the record but did so in a manner that speaks volumes of his talent and tenacity.
England knows well that records are meant to be broken, and in passing the torch to Root, Cook has done so with grace and admiration. As the cricketing community celebrates this achievement, it also looks forward to seeing what more Root has to offer, both in his career and in the inspiration he provides to younger players.
With this milestone, Joe Root joins the ranks of cricket legends, and as Alastair Cook aptly put it, “We are watching a genius.” England, and indeed the world, will surely be keen to witness many more masterclasses from Joe Root in the years to come.
