‘Simply England’s greatest’ – Alastair Cook praises Joe Root after 34th Test hundred

In Test cricket, Joe Root eclipsed his former captain Alastair Cook’s record for the most hundreds by an England international. After the 33-year-old broke the record with two hundreds in the second Test match at Lord’s against Sri Lanka, Cook praised him as the best batter England had ever produced. After taking a little to settle in, Root scored 143 runs in the first innings. In the second, he used his Bazball persona to smash a fast century and help England get 251 runs.

Cook disclosed that he thought Root may reach his century in the second innings as well, following the conclusion of the day’s play. The former cricket player went on to say that he enjoyed seeing Root conduct business at Lord’s. Cook said that he saw Root’s ability from the start of his career and thought the cricketer had the potential to amass 10,000 or more runs in a Test match.

He is without a doubt the finest player in England, and it is only fitting that he have this record all by himself. We are witnessing a mastermind. There’s not a single batsman that I can recall seeing play with the air of inevitable score that Joe Root gives off. I told him he was going to get 100 when I contacted him this morning at around six.

Alastair Cook said on the BBC, “I know he’s in great form, but it’s just a pleasure to watch a master, a craftsman at work.”

With his England cap on and a huge smile on his face, he stepped out to bat with the game hanging in the balance. He looked thirteen. After witnessing his initial encounters, I thought, “This guy is here to stay.” Sincerely, I said, ‘He’s getting ten thousand runs. “I know that I said it, even though I’m not sure to whom I said it,” he continued.

Also Read: joe Root pushes England’s advantage beyond 400

England achieved a target of 483 runs thanks to a century from Root. With two wickets taken in the final hours of the day, the Ollie Pope-led team ended Day 3 with 53/2. It’s a lot to climb, but they need to win the second Test of the series with 430 runs.