Lord’s Test: When Joe Root reserved his best for India again, with 37th century

What is it that brings out the best in Joe Root against India? It’s difficult to pinpoint the answer, but after rather modest returns in the first two Tests of the ongoing series, the former England captain was back to doing ‘Joe Root things’ as he steered the hosts out of trouble in the crucial third Test with a meticulously crafted century at Lord’s on Friday.

It’s not easy to resume overnight on 99, not even if you are someone who has been there and done it all. When Root nudged Jasprit Bumrah uppishly past gully to reach his 37th Test century, he surpassed Steve Smith as the active player with most Test hundreds, while also moving into fifth on the all-time list, just one behind Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara.

The master batters ahead of him now are Sachin Tendulkar (51), Jacques Kallis (45), Ricky Ponting (41) and Sangakkara (38).

Now 34, Root has said he's "having fun" since the burden of captaincy was handed over to Ben Stokes three years ago, and it’s reflecting in his batting form. In 36 Tests on the eve of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy ever since he focused on playing as a batter again since 2022, the slender Yorkshire great has accumulated 3,117 runs at a handsome average of 56.67. And yes, he also became the first batter in history to score 3,000 Test runs against India with 11 centuries, a feat matched only by the prolific Smith.

‘’Joe Root has inspired everyone in the changing room and in this country,’’ England vice-captain Pope told the BBC after the first day’s play. ‘’His work ethic and the way he goes about his cricket is inspirational over such a long career,’’ said Pope, who fell after giving company to Root for a patient 109-run partnership for the third wicket after they had slipped to 44 for two by the first hour on Thursday.

The situation was tailormade for him to take ‘root’ at the crease, a well-worn cliché, and that's precisely what he did, ignoring provocations from the likes of Mohammed Siraj to cut loose or to go for the decisive second run with Ravindra Jadeja teasing him from the outfield to do so. England’s most prolific batter of all time refused to be flustered by such antics, while the media also repeatedly pointed out how England has forsaken the Bazball strategy for the moment to play some ‘boring’ yet effective Test cricket.

Root’s famous patience and control was on display for over five hours on Thursday, in complete contrast to the often misplaced bravado he tried to show during England's 4-1 rout at the hands of India last year. A reverse sweep off Jasprit Bumrah in the third Test in Rajkot, whereby he gifted his wicket, had come in for huge criticism but then, that seems like a distant memory now.