Cricket Superstar Joe Root Honors Late Coach Graham Thorpe With Emotional 33rd Test Century
In a heartwarming tribute, England’s batting sensation Joe Root dedicated his 33rd Test century to the late Graham Thorpe, his former coach and dear friend. Root, who scored a magnificent 143 on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, saluted the heavens upon reaching the three-figure mark, honoring the immense impact Thorpe had on his illustrious career.
“Thorpey was one of those people who offered me so much. He put a lot into my game, into my career, and without his help I definitely wouldn’t be where I am now.” The emotional Root acknowledged that Thorpe’s passing has left a void, stating, “He’s someone I’m sorely going to miss and who I owe a lot to.”
Root’s sublime innings has now propelled him to tie Sir Alastair Cook as England’s all-time leading century-maker, with 33 tons. The in-form batsman is also closing in on becoming his country’s top Test run-scorer, needing just 198 more runs to reach the milestone.
While Root’s heroics were the highlight of the day, the form of stand-in captain Ollie Pope continued to be a talking point. Pope once again struggled, falling cheaply for just one run. However, Root dismissed any concerns, stating, “It’s so easy to make it something when it isn’t at all. He seems to be in a really good place with it. That’s more of a storyline for [the media] to play around with.”
As for Root’s own innings, the former England captain admitted to being slightly anxious on 99, where he was stuck for 12 deliveries. “You can’t not hear the crowd,” he said. “There is an element of relief when you cross the line.”
The MCC also addressed concerns over ticket sales for day four, noting that while the opening three days have been near capacity, similar to the recent West Indies series, the final day has seen slower sales. However, they remain optimistic, encouraging fans, including under-16s, to attend the concluding day’s play.
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