Joe Root’s Twin Centuries Shatter Records at Lord’s

In a historic Test match at Lord’s, Joe Root etched his name in the annals of cricket history by breaking multiple records, reaffirming his status as one of England’s greatest cricketers. Facing Sri Lanka in the second Test, Root’s performances were nothing short of spectacular, as he scored centuries in both innings, setting new benchmarks for future generations.

Root began his record-breaking spree by scoring a magnificent 143 in the first innings, equaling the record for the most Test centuries by an England player, a record previously held by the legendary Alastair Cook with 33 centuries. But Root wasn’t done. In the second innings, he went on to score a brisk 102*, surpassing Cook’s tally and becoming England’s all-time leading century-maker with 34 Test hundreds.

What makes Root’s achievement even more remarkable is the context in which he did it. Playing his 145th Test, Root reached this milestone in fewer matches than Cook, who played 161 Test. This achievement highlights Root’s consistency and class over the years.

Moreover, Root’s twin centuries at Lord’s placed him in an elite group of cricketers who have scored hundreds in both innings of a Test at the ‘Home of Cricket.’ He joined the likes of George Headley, Graham Gooch, and Michael Vaughan, adding his name to the illustrious list.

Root’s second-innings century came off just 111 balls, making it his fastest Test hundred to date. His previous quickest century was against New Zealand at Trent Bridge in 2022, where he took 116 balls. This not only showcased his adaptability but also his ability to shift gears when needed.

Adding to his list of achievements, Root became the first England player to score 50 international centuries, a milestone reached by only eight other cricketers in history. With 34 centuries in tests and 16 in ODIs, Root has set a new standard for English batsmen.

But the records didn’t stop there. Root also broke the record for the most runs scored at Lord’s, surpassing Graham Gooch’s tally of 2015 runs. Root’s aggregate now stands at 2022 runs, placing him fifth on the list of highest runs scored at a single venue in Test cricket.

In addition to his batting exploits, Root achieved another significant milestone in the field by taking his 200th Test catch during the Lord’s Test. This places him among the top non-wicketkeeping fielders in Test cricket history, tied with South African great Jacques Kallis, and just ten catches behind Rahul Dravid, the leader in this category.

At 33, Joe Root is the only active Test cricketer among those who have scored 34 or more centuries, and his latest achievements suggest that there are more records for him to break. Root’s exceptional performances at Lord’s not only reinforce his legacy but also serve as an inspiration to cricket fans and players around the world.

 

Most Tests hundreds:

• 51 Hundreds in 200 Tests – Sachin Tendulkar IND 1989-2013
• 45 Hundreds in 166 Tests – Jacques Kallis RSA 1995-2013
• 41 Hundreds in 168 Tests – Ricky Ponting AUS 1995-2012
• 38 Hundreds in 134 Tests – Kumar Sangakkara SRI 2000-2015
• 36 Hundreds in 164 Tests – Rahul Dravid IND/ICC 1996-2012
• 34 Hundreds in 118 Tests – Younis Khan PAK 2000-2017
• 34 Hundreds in 125 Tests – Sunil Gavaskar IND 1971-1987
• 34 Hundreds in 131 Tests – Brian Lara WIS/ICC 1990-2006
• 34 Hundreds in 149 Tests – Mahela Jayawardene SRI 1997-2014
• 34 Hundreds in 145 Tests – Joe Root ENG 2012 –
• 33 Hundreds in 161 Tests – Alastair Cook ENG 2006-2018

 

Hundreds in both innings of a Tests at Lord’s:

• 106 and 107 George Headley WIS v ENG 1939
• 333 and 123 Graham Gooch ENG v IND 1990
• 103 and 101 no Michael Vaughan ENG v WIS 2004
• 143 and 102* Joe Root ENG v SRI 2024

 

With every innings, Joe Root continues to raise the bar, proving that he is indeed one of the modern greats of the game. His journey is far from over, and cricket lovers can only wait in anticipation of what this maestro will accomplish next.