Joe Root turned the second highest profession run-scorer in test cricket and hit his thirty eighth century in the format as England reached 433-4 on Friday to steer India by 75 runs.
Root was 121 not out at tea on day 3 of the fourth test at Old Trafford, with England captain Ben Stokes 36 not out.
The 34-year-old Root, who had moved third on the all-time runs checklist in the opening session, overtook Australia’s Ricky Ponting (13,378) in the afternoon to go second. Root’s present complete is 13,380 and nonetheless far behind first-placed Sachin Tendulkar (15,921).
Ponting, commentating on the match for Sky Sports, congratulated Root and mentioned the Old Trafford crowd had “witnessed a moment in history.”
He then backed Root to develop into the all time No. 1.
“Just one more to go. The way his career has gone over the last five years, there’s absolutely no reason why not,” he mentioned.
Of extra significance for England was a commanding efficiency in Manchester with the host heading for a considerable first-innings lead and hoping to clinch the five-match sequence, which it at present leads 2-1.
Resuming on 225-2 and replying to India’s first innings of 358, Root and Ollie Pope had been each on half centuries at lunch as the guests struggled to have any affect with the ball.
Pope ultimately went for 71 when caught by KL Rahul off Washington Sundar. And Sundar quickly had his second wicket when Harry Brook (3) was stumped by Dhruv Jurel.
But England overcame that wobble with the Root and Stokes partnership.
England carried on its spectacular batting from day 2 when it took control of the match with a blistering opening partnership of 166 by Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett.
Root’s landmark day might have ended early when he survived almost being run out on 22 following a miscommunication with Pope that left him method out of place when Ravindra Jadeja tried to capitalize. Before that Root narrowly prevented being out leg earlier than wicket. But that was lengthy forgotten as Old Trafford stood to applaud his newest excellent efficiency.
