Modern-day great Joe Root of England national cricket team has broken the old record of the legendary Alastair Cook and has become the batsman with the most centuries for England in the history of Test cricket.
Root achieved this remarkable feat in the second Test of the three-match series against the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London by scoring two tons. Notably, he has now scored as many Test hundreds (17) since the start of 2021 as the rest of the Fab-4 combined.
In the first innings, he scored 143 runs in 206 balls before being dismissed by Milan Rathnayake in the 78th over. Meanwhile, in the second innings, he scored 103 runs in 121 balls before being dismissed by Lahiru Kumara in the 55th over.
Root’s two centuries helped him surpass Alastair Cook’s mark of 33 hundreds for England and become the leading century scorer. Root completed the milestone by hitting a four off Lahiru Kumara on the second ball of the 53rd over.
After completing the ton, Root jumped for joy and punched the air with his fist, before raising his bat to the applause. Alastair Cook saw it all live at Lord’s while commentating for the BBC.
Special moment.
Joe Root surpasses Sir Alastair Cook to score most Test hundreds for England 🐐 photo.twitter.com/cD5aCXl1Id
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 31, 2024
Many fans thought Cook would be jealous to see Root beat his record, but that wasn’t the case at all. The BBC shared an exclusive clip of Cook’s reaction as Root reached his record-breaking 34th Test run and the English great was absolutely delighted to see the 33-year-old achieve the milestone.
His reaction to Joe Root breaking his record showed his kind nature and sportsmanship. Cook also celebrated Root’s achievement, demonstrating his humility.
Watch: Alastair Cook’s touching reaction to Joe Root’s record
A special moment for Joe Root as he reaches 34 Test hundreds.
The man whose record he surpassed was watching.
Sir Alastair Cook 🤝 Joe Root#cricketbbc photo.twitter.com/EjjH9zd0mc
— Special Test Match (@bbctms) August 31, 2024
Also, watching the events unfold, Alastair Cook called Root “England’s finest” and hailed him as the batting genius. Speaking on air, the England great stated:
“It’s very simple: he’s England’s best. It’s absolutely right that he has this record to himself. Take it easy, Joe, we’re watching you and you’re a genius. There’s a sense of inevitability about Joe Root when he bats, a sense that he’s always going to score runs. It’s a pleasure to watch a master at work like that.”
Alastair Cook even got furious when the cameras focused on him and said that the presenters should show Root instead of him as it is his time. He further said (as quoted by BBC Test Match Special):
“There are cameras on me from every angle. I feel very anxious. Now I feel like any reaction I give will be an act and will be seen everywhere.”
“Now they’re showing me on a giant screen on the pitch. What a way to kick a man when he’s down! That’s exactly what I mean! Stop showing me, it’s all about Joe!”
Also, in the final innings of the match, Joe Root achieved another great feat by becoming the first fielder from the England National Cricket Team to take 200 catches in the history of Test cricket.
