What a player Joe Root is! He is certainly a modern-day legend. While he could not thrive in the ODI and T20I arena much, he is miles ahead of his counterparts in Test cricket. On Sunday, the former English skipper added another feather to his cap by becoming only 2nd Englishman to complete 10000 runs in the red-ball cricket after Sir Alastair Cook.
Courtesy of Joe Root’s unbeaten Century, England managed to defeat New Zealand by five wickets in the Lord’s test to go 1-0 up in the three-match series. It was a game filled with more twists and turns than your average thriller movie. On day one, New Zealand won the toss and decided to bat first. However, the veteran James Anderson alongside the debutant Matty Potts created havoc and dismissed the Kiwis for 132 in the first innings.
In reply, the old memories came to haunt back England as the batting failed to deliver and New Zealand mounted a surreal comeback by bundling out England just for 141. After conceding a lead of nine runs, the Kiwis batted beautifully in the 2nd innings. At one time, they were looking to post a massive total courtesy of a solid partnership between Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell, but Stuart Broad brought the hosts back in style with two wickets in one over. From there, New Zealand collapsed and they posted a fighting total of 277 runs to win the game.
Joe Root scores the 26th Test hundred of his career to gift Ben Stokes a win on his Test Captaincy debut
Chasing the total, England were in a spot of bother as the visitors reduced them to 69/4 at one point. However, Joe Root was as determined as ever as the right-handed batter first added vital runs with Ben Stokes for the 5th wicket and then stitched an unbeaten partnership alongside Ben Foakes to win the Lord’s Test.
In the process, Joe Root completed the 26th Test century of his career and also crossed the massive milestone of 10000 Test runs in his career.
Once the game was over, Twitterati hailed the former English skipper the best in the world at the moment.
Check out the best reactions here:
Ten thousand test runs is a great accomplishment. Modern great. #JoeRoot
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 5, 2022
Joe Root has 10,000 Test runs. And he's just 31 ???? Well played and congratulations @root66 ???????? #ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/l5dDL5v7Iz
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) June 5, 2022
First few matches after losing captaincy are always awkward. But Joe Root showed one doesn't need to be a captain to be a leader. This 100 was important for him, Stokes, McCullum and England cricket.
Congratulations on 10000 test runs @root66— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) June 5, 2022
"One of England's all-time greats!" ????
The moment Rooty reached his 26th Test century ????@Root66 | @IGCom pic.twitter.com/DBO9QKiurG
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 5, 2022
Amazing to think this was Joe Root’s first 4th innings ton. Second Englishman to cross 10000 Test runs and equal youngest ever with Sir Alistair Cook at 31yrs and 157 days. Job done for England – well played ????????#ENGvsNZ
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) June 5, 2022
The way Joe Root and Ben Foakes batted and took England to victory against New Zealand is a fine demonstration of responsibility, discipline and character.
That is true professionalism.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) June 5, 2022
100 and 10,000 happened to Joe Root at the same time.
This was obvious, given that √10000=100.
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) June 5, 2022
Joe Root becomes the joint youngest batsman in history to score 10,000 Test runs.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 5, 2022
Historic moment in England Test cricket and Nasser Hussain made the moment even better from the commentary box. pic.twitter.com/YW6Uf2jknz
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 5, 2022
Wow, Joe Root. What a knock to take your team across the line! Also, Ben Foakes holding the other end very well. Well played, England.#ENGvNZ
— Prajakta (@18prajakta) June 5, 2022
