Joe Root | file photo
High intensity, chain on the line, and you sold your partner, who was playing as usual, down the river. You have just started your innings and are looking for a target that has never been chased. Many players falter under such pressure. But not the former Test captain of England. No Joe Root,
He came in, scored a match-winning century that turned the entire color of the match on its head, took his side home, and cemented himself as an absolute legend of the game.
Root reached his 28th Test century in just 136 balls, steamed up India’s defense and made a strong statement – there is no one better than him in Test cricket right now.
With this innings, Joe Root now has the most Test centuries in Fab 4. Virat Kohli And Steve Smith 27 stand on each, and Kane Williamson There are 24 in front of his name. He has also scored nine centuries against India – more than any other player in the history of Test cricket.
The highlight of the match was not the way he countered, nor the way he hit the boundaries, which were more than 15. But, it was the way he milked the Indian bowlers of his own free will for singles and doubles. This is where England won, and this is where India stumbled – big time.
A reverse sweep for a six from Shardul Thakur reminded everyone that he is known for his class, but he can also channel his inner butler at will. And that doesn’t just make him a modern day great, which makes him a legend like no other.
Over the years, Root has established himself as a well-known player for England in the Test team. Amidst all the defeats, downfalls, changes, one thing remained constant – the runs kept coming for Root.
He was, is and will always be the calm in the chaos for this English Test team. He’s the glue that holds the lineup together, and without him, the side risks losing its soul.
Earlier during the New Zealand series, Joe Root crossed the coveted landmark of 10,000 runs and became only the second English player after Sir Alastair Cook to reach there.
Fair to say, he is in a league of his own. The Edgbaston Test vs India was just another example that proved what the English Test team deserved with Joe.
After all, he was, and always will be, the calm in the chaos for England.