On the first day of the second Test at Lord’s, Joe Root had a day to remember as the English completely destroyed the Sri Lankan attack to record another painstakingly constructed century, his 33rd in Test matches. But Gus Atkinson’s batting display was the other one that attracted particular notice.
From the opposing end, those consecutive sixes he struck were incredible strokes. It’s similar to seeing Jacques Kallis perform.
Atkinson finished the day with an aggressive 81-ball 74*, and Root was full of praise for him. The two had a 92-run stand. The centurion praised Atkinson’s performance and even drew a parallel between the 26-year-old and South African legend Jacques Kallis, citing the way the latter crushed the maximums he scored in the ‘V’. Yes, it was pleasant and good. I’ll explain why it was entertaining to watch Gussy (Gus Atkinson) play baseball on the other end.
“It was a fantastic short innings from him, and he had some good partnerships along the way,” Root said in an England Cricket video that was uploaded to X.
Having someone like Alastair Cook in your life and surroundings is wonderful: Joe Root
Speaking about another legendary former English group leader, Alastair Cook, the former skipper praised Cook’s natural qualities, saying he was someone who was willing to have meaningful conversations and someone you could rely on to offer advice even in the most difficult circumstances.
Indeed, it is evidently pleasant, but it’s more like, you try, you take satisfaction in attempting to assist the team win. We’ve laughed and joked about a few things, but Alastair Cook, sometimes known as “Cookie,” has always been someone I can look up to, bounce ideas off of, and chat to when I’m feeling pressured or like things aren’t going well. He’s also been incredibly helpful and encouraging. Having individuals like that in your life and surroundings is wonderful,” the Yorkshire native continued.
Also Read: Ollie Pope on playing a dual role in the Sri Lanka Tests: “I learnt how I can have my batting and captaincy separate”
After reaching his 33rd century in the red-ball format, Root tied the record for the most hundreds ever amassed by an English cricket player in Test matches. Now that he has achieved one major goal, Root should be aiming to surpass Cook in Test run totals as well, which shouldn’t be too far off.
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