England captain Joe Root slammed a masterful century on day two of the third Test against India at Headingley. This was the 30-year-old’s third hundred of the series, sixth of the year, and the 23rd of his Test career.
Root, who made 109 in the drawn first Test at Trent Bridge and a brilliant 180 not out at Lord’s, looked in excellent touch from the get-go at his home ground on Thursday. He got to fifty in style with a back-foot punch through point for four, and he got to his hundred with a flick past mid-wicket for four.
Live blog: England vs India, day two of the third Test
Here’s are some reactions to Root’s marvellous ton at Headingley:
#ENGvIND
— The Field (@thefield_in) August 26, 2021
The brilliant Joe Root gets to his sixth century of the year, and third in this series.
🎥 Sony Sports pic.twitter.com/bK6RfaPWxW
Five players have now scored eight Test centuries against India: Sobers, Richards, Ponting, Steve Smith and Root. No one has nine.
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) August 26, 2021
This was Joe Root's third fastest Test match hundred.
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) August 26, 2021
1. 118 balls v 🇦🇺 - July 2015
2. 120 balls v 🇱🇰 - Nov 2018
3. 125 balls v 🇮🇳 - Today
4. 126 balls v 🌴 - April 2015
5. 128 balls v 🇿🇦 - Jan 2016#ENGvIND
Most hundreds in India-England Tests:
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) August 26, 2021
8 Joe Root (41 inns)
7 Rahul Dravid (37)
7 Sachin Tendulkar (53)
7 Alastair Cook (54)
6 Mohammad Azharuddin (24)
6 Kevin Pietersen (28)#ENGvIND
Most centuries for England in Test cricket:
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) August 26, 2021
33 : Alastair Cook
23 : Kevin Pietersen
23 : Joe Root*
Most centuries for England skippers in Tests:
12 : Alastair Cook
12 : Joe Root*
11 : G Gooch#ENGvsIND
Most Test hundreds against India by
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) August 26, 2021
England players:-
8 - JOE ROOT
7 - Alastair Cook
6 - Kevin Pietersen
England captains:-
5 - JOE ROOT
4 - Alastair Cook
3 - Graham Gooch#ENGvIND
Joe Root conversion rates:
— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) August 26, 2021
8 x 100 in first 21 50+ scores
9 x 100 in next 45 50+ scores
6 x 100 in next 7 50+ scores
It doesn't matter which team you are supporting. Cast that aside. This performance from Joe Root is that of a top player at the height of his power.and something to admire.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 26, 2021
He has really taken his game to the next level this year. Well played @root66 👏🏼 Class act👌🏼 #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/GxxkWYlQF1
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) August 26, 2021
As Chris Broad once said of Jonty Rhodes, you run out of expletives to describe Joe Root.
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) August 26, 2021
Joe Root becomes the first player to score a hundred in his 100th Test innings as a captain.#ENGvIND
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) August 26, 2021
It really is something to watch a batter in his ultimate prime. What an unbelievable year Root is having. Mind boggling. 🤯 #ENGvIND
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) August 26, 2021
Not an ordinary Joe, this man Root! Superb century
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) August 26, 2021
Joe Root’s sixth Test century of 2021. And first on his home ground since his maiden ton in 2013. pic.twitter.com/36HfTr9REG
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) August 26, 2021
When Joe Root kisses the three lions on the crest of his helmet you feel one of them should kiss him back. He does so much for England. Just gives and gives and gives. #ENGvIND
— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) August 26, 2021
228 v SL (Galle)
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) August 26, 2021
186 v SL (Galle)
218 v Ind (Chennai)
.......
109 v Ind (Nottingham)
180* v Ind (Lord's)
100* v Ind (Leeds)
Joe Root is the first player to score hundreds in 3 consecutive Tests TWICE in the same year!#ENGvIND
Roooooooooooooottttt #ENGvsIND
— Tim Bresnan (@timbresnan) August 26, 2021
Most centuries in Test cricket this year:
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) August 26, 2021
8 : Sri Lanka
7 : Bangladesh
7 : England
6 : Joe Root*
6 : Pakistan
4 : India
4 : New Zealand @vikrantgupta73 #ENGvsIND
JOE ROOT YOU GODDAMN FORCE OF NATURE pic.twitter.com/orKkGOyGAa
— Sritama Panda (@cricketpun_duh) August 26, 2021
Joe Root joins the illustrious list of Denis Compton and Michael Vaughan in having scored six Test match centuries in a calendar year. Masterful stuff from the England captain. #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/Wa1hm2ECRR
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) August 26, 2021
Joe Root doing what Saeed Anwar, Sanath Jayasuriya, Andy Flower, Gary Kirsten, Shivnarine Chanderpaul (& few others) did to India all those years ago.
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) August 26, 2021
Millenials/Twitterati getting a taste of 90s cricket! #EngvInd #IndvsEng