New Delhi: Joe Root reached a significant milestone on the first day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, equalling Alastair Cook’s England record of 33 Test centuries. Despite a nervous moment on 99, Root reached his hundred off 162 balls, hitting a boundary off Lahiru Kumara.
Root’s innings came to an end when he was caught by Pathum Nissanka for 143 runs. This was his sixth Test century at this prestigious ground. At the time of his dismissal, England’s score was 308-7. With this century, Root has come equal to Cook, who has scored 33 Test centuries in a career of 161 Tests, while Root achieved this feat in his 145th match.
The 33-year-old’s century has taken him to joint tenth place on the all-time list of Test century-makers.
Topping the list is Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 51 centuries in 200 Test matches between 1989 and 2013. Notably, Root is the only active cricketer in this exclusive group, all others having retired from Test cricket.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan compared Root’s stats to India’s run machine Virat Kohli on social media.
Root’s innings came to an end when he was caught by Pathum Nissanka for 143 runs. This was his sixth Test century at this prestigious ground. At the time of his dismissal, England’s score was 308-7. With this century, Root has come equal to Cook, who has scored 33 Test centuries in a career of 161 Tests, while Root achieved this feat in his 145th match.
The 33-year-old’s century has taken him to joint tenth place on the all-time list of Test century-makers.
Topping the list is Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 51 centuries in 200 Test matches between 1989 and 2013. Notably, Root is the only active cricketer in this exclusive group, all others having retired from Test cricket.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan compared Root’s stats to India’s run machine Virat Kohli on social media.
However, Vaughan’s post was criticised by Indian fans who expressed their disagreement with the comparison.
Most centuries in test cricket
51 Sachin Tendulkar, India
45 Jacques Kallis, South Africa/ICC
41 Ricky Ponting, Australia
38 Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka
36 Rahul Dravid, India/ICC
34 Sunil Gavaskar, India
34 Brian Lara, West Indies
34 Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka
34 Younus Khan, Pakistan
33 Alastair Cook, England
33 x-Joe Root, England
