Joe Root Becomes England’s Leading Run-Scorer in Dominant Display
On Monday, Joe Root further cemented his legacy as one of England’s all-time great batters, registering his 34th Test century and surpassing Sir Alastair Cook’s tally to become the nation’s leading run-scorer. The inspirational 31-year-old credited the team’s revitalized mindset under the leadership of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes as a key factor behind his prolific form.
“The environment and the way we look at the game now is so fun to be around,” Root said, having scored 103 in England’s second innings against Sri Lanka at Chester-le-Street to complement his first-day 143. “It’s an environment where you see guys thrive and even as a senior player it gives you so much energy.”
Since the new management took over in June 2022, Root has been in scintillating touch, amassing nine centuries and 2,488 runs at an impressive average of 59.23 – a stark contrast to the “psychological strain” he and the team endured during the Covid-19 pandemic years.
“The last few years I’ve had a good time of it and things have been pretty good,” he said, acknowledging the exhausting nature of life as an international cricketer, where you’re “running on a hamster wheel” with little time for reflection.
Upon reaching his latest three-figure milestone, becoming the first English batter since Michael Vaughan in 2004 to score centuries in both innings at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, Root celebrated with an in-joke gesture shared with captain Stokes, a nod to their mutual appreciation of the recent Elvis Presley biopic.
While former England captains Alastair Cook and Michael Vaughan hailed Root as the nation’s greatest batter, the man himself remained humble, stating, “I feel like there’s a lot more work to be done and a lot more to contribute.”
Root’s record-breaking day was further highlighted by his 200th Test catch, making him the first Englishman to reach this landmark. As Sri Lanka’s batting coach Ian Bell aptly summarized, “His skill level is incredible… to see him achieve what he’s achieved now with so much more to give is incredible.”
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