Cricket

The debate over the greatest batsman of this generation has reignited following Joe Root's record-breaking 34th Test century at Lord's. Among the "Fab Four" of Root, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, and Virat Kohli, Root now holds the most Test centuries with 34.In a recent podcast, former cricketers Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan weighed in on the debate. For T20 cricket, both Gilchrist and Vaughan unanimously chose Kohli over Root. In ODIs, Vaughan again favored Kohli, with Gilchrist concurring.However, when it came to Test cricket, Vaughan opted for Root, acknowledging his recent dominance. Gilchrist agreed, stating that Root's statistics over the long term are exceptional, making him the greatest England batsman ever.However, when asked to choose between Kohli and Root against Australia, Gilchrist hesitated, emphasizing the importance of the playing conditions. In Australia, he noted that Root has yet to score a century, while Kohli has produced some of his finest performances, including a memorable century at the Perth Stadium.Vaughan conceded that Kohli would be his choice in Australia, but elsewhere, he would favor Root. He highlighted Root's impressive record in India, where he has scored over 1200 runs in 15 Tests with three centuries.Kohli's aggressive and technically sound batting makes him a formidable force in all formats. His cover drives, flicks, and ability to chase down targets with precision are among his strengths. His adaptability and consistency make him one of the most reliable batsmen in the world.Root, on the other hand, is known for his classical batting technique and consistency, particularly in Test cricket. He is adept at handling both pace and spin, with an elegant playing style that includes effective use of the back foot and a wide range of shots. Root's ability to grind out runs in challenging conditions is also noteworthy.While both players are exceptional, Kohli is often regarded as more dominant in limited-overs cricket, while Root's strengths lie in the longer format. The debate over who is the greatest batsman of this generation is likely to continue, but both Kohli and Root have cemented their status as two of the finest players of their era.

England's dominance continued on Day 4 of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's Cricket Ground, London. After posting a mammoth 344 in their first innings, England dismissed Sri Lanka for 135 and enforced the follow-on.In their second innings, Sri Lanka lost two early wickets, leaving them with a daunting task of chasing down 430 runs with just eight wickets in hand. Gus Atkinson, who has been a revelation for England this series, claimed the wicket of Dimuth Karunaratne in the second innings, adding to his tally of three wickets in the match.England's batting performance was led by Joe Root, who scored a magnificent 186 in the first innings. Jonny Bairstow also contributed with a valuable 111, while Ben Stokes chipped in with 56.Sri Lanka's bowlers struggled to contain England's batsmen, with only Lasith Embuldeniya managing to take more than one wicket. The Sri Lankan batsmen, on the other hand, failed to put up any significant resistance, with only Angelo Mathews (49) and Niroshan Dickwella (35) offering some resistance.With Sri Lanka facing an uphill battle to save the match, England will be confident of wrapping up the contest on Day 4. The hosts need just eight more wickets to secure victory and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

England's Joe Root has etched his name into the annals of cricket history by becoming the all-time highest-scoring player for his country. At the age of 33, Root achieved this remarkable feat during the second Test against Sri Lanka, registering his 34th Test century.Root's achievement is a testament to his exceptional consistency and longevity at the highest level. Despite the significant shift in England's approach to Test cricket under Brendon McCullum's "Bazball" philosophy, Root has maintained his exemplary form, piling up runs and reaching milestones that others can only dream of.Currently ranked seventh on the all-time list of Test run-getters with 12,377 runs, Root has a realistic chance of surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who holds the top spot with 15,921 runs. When asked about the possibility of becoming the highest-scoring player in Test cricket, Root remained humble, emphasizing his focus on playing for the team and scoring runs."I just want to play, and try, and do my bit for the team and score the runs as many as I can and see where we get to," Root said. "But there's no better feeling... it's obviously amazing when you score 100, you'd be lying if you said it wasn't, a big part of why you start playing the game and what you love about it."However, Root also acknowledged the importance of winning Test matches, stating that it is the ultimate goal. "But there's no better feeling than winning a Test match," he said. "So the more it can affect games and the more you can add to the team, the greater it is. So, that will be the main focus. And hopefully more days like this will come with that mentality."With several years of cricket still ahead of him and fitness on his side, Root has a realistic chance of surpassing Tendulkar's record. His unwavering determination and exceptional talent make him a formidable force in the world of Test cricket.

Joe Root, the enigmatic English batsman, has etched his name into the annals of cricket history by surpassing Alastair Cook's record for the most Test centuries by an English player. In the second Test against Sri Lanka at the hallowed Lord's Cricket Ground, Root notched up his 34th Test hundred, eclipsing Cook's tally of 33.Root's century came on the third day of the match, a testament to his unwavering determination and exceptional batting prowess. With a deft cut off Lahiru Kumara, he registered his 10th boundary off 111 deliveries, reaching the coveted milestone. This achievement is even more remarkable considering that Root achieved it in just 145 Test matches, while Cook required 161 Tests to reach his tally of 33 centuries.Earlier in the match, Root had scored a magnificent 143 in the first innings, equaling Cook's record. However, his second century of the game not only broke the record but also cemented his status as one of the most prolific batsmen in England's Test cricket history.Root's seventh Test century at Lord's also secured him the record for the most Test hundreds at the 'Home of Cricket,' surpassing the England duo of Graham Gooch and Michael Vaughan, who each had six. In doing so, Root became only the fourth batsman to score centuries in both innings of a Test at Lord's, joining West Indies legend George Headley (1939), Gooch (1990), and Vaughan (2004).Root's latest hundred also elevated him to joint-sixth on the all-time list of Test century-makers, a ranking led by India's Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 51 centuries in 200 Tests from 1989 to 2013. At 33, Root is the only active player among the top century-makers in Test cricket history.This achievement is a testament to Root's unwavering consistency and exceptional batting skills. He has consistently performed at the highest level, amassing runs across different conditions and against formidable opponents. Root's ability to adapt to different situations and play with both flair and resilience has made him one of the most respected and admired batsmen in the world.

England's dominance continued on the third morning at Lord's as they extended their lead over Sri Lanka to a commanding 390 runs. Joe Root, the lynchpin of England's batting, remained unbeaten on 45, while Jamie Smith contributed 23 not out.Root and Harry Brook forged a brisk 58-run partnership for the fourth wicket, putting Sri Lanka's bowlers under pressure. Brook, who was dropped on 9, played aggressively, hitting boundaries off Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara. However, he eventually fell to Prabath Jayasuriya for 37.Sri Lanka had earlier made early inroads, dismissing Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope. Duckett was caught in an unfortunate mix-up between slip and gully, while Pope fell to a bouncer from Fernando.Despite these setbacks, England remained in control. Root, who has scored three consecutive half-centuries in the series, played with composure and guided his team towards a declaration.Jayasuriya, who conceded 61 runs from his 10-over spell, was the most expensive of Sri Lanka's bowlers. He did, however, remove Brook, but England's lead continued to grow.Smith, who came to the crease after Brook's dismissal, played with confidence, hitting boundaries off Jayasuriya and Kumara.As lunch approached, England had passed 150 for 4, with Root and Smith looking to extend their lead even further. Sri Lanka's hopes of keeping the chase within reach were fading as England's batting prowess proved too much to handle.

Joe Root's record-equalling 33rd Test century propelled England to a commanding position on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's.After Sri Lanka opted to field first, England's openers Ben Duckett and Dan Lawrence fell cheaply. Ollie Pope, captaining the side in place of the injured Ben Stokes, also struggled, dismissed for just one.However, Root, batting at number four, steadied the innings with a masterful display of batting. He shared partnerships of 48 with Harry Brook, 62 with Jamie Smith, and 92 with Gus Atkinson.Root reached his century in 162 balls, with 13 fours, moving into joint-tenth place in the all-time list of Test century-makers. He also tied Alastair Cook's record of 33 Test centuries, becoming the only active cricketer in the top ranks of Test century-makers.Atkinson provided valuable support to Root, scoring an unbeaten 74 in a seventh-wicket partnership of 92 runs. The 26-year-old hit two sixes off Prabath Jayasuriya and pulled Lahiru Kumara for another six over midwicket.England ended the day on 358 for 7, with Atkinson and Jack Leach at the crease. Root's century and Atkinson's aggressive batting have put England in a strong position to build a substantial first-innings lead.

Joe Root, England's talismanic batsman, has etched his name into the annals of cricket history by equaling Alastair Cook's record of 33 Test centuries. This remarkable achievement came during the first day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's, a hallowed ground that has witnessed countless cricketing legends.Root's journey to this milestone has been nothing short of extraordinary. In just 145 matches, he has matched Cook's tally, who took 161 games to reach the same mark. This feat places Root in joint-tenth position on the all-time list of Test century-makers, alongside some of the greatest names in the sport.What sets Root apart from his illustrious peers is his longevity and consistency. At 33 years old, he is the only active player among the top ten century-makers. This underscores his exceptional talent and his potential to further cement his place among the all-time greats.Root's achievement is a testament to his unwavering determination and unwavering focus. He has consistently performed at the highest level, scoring runs in all conditions and against all opposition. His ability to adapt to different situations and his mastery of all aspects of batting make him a formidable force in the world of cricket.The list of most Test centuries is dominated by legends from the past, but Root's presence among them is a reminder that the game continues to produce exceptional players. His achievement is a source of pride for England and inspiration for aspiring cricketers around the world.

Ollie Pope, England's stand-in captain, has sought guidance from former skipper Joe Root on balancing the demands of batting and leadership. Pope, who led England to a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Old Trafford, struggled with the bat, scoring twice for six.Despite the team's success, Pope recognized the need to separate his captaincy and batting responsibilities. He turned to Root, who captained England for a record 64 Tests, for advice. Root, known for his exceptional batting skills, emphasized the importance of compartmentalizing the two roles."It's about having the two things separate," Pope said. "That's something I've spoken to Joe Root about. We just spoke about how it's more taxing in the field but it's finding a little routine and doing small things."Pope acknowledged Root's "great cricket brain" and sought his insights on managing the mental and physical demands of captaincy. Root's experience in leading England through challenging times proved invaluable to Pope.While England's aggressive batting approach under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum has been successful, Pope highlighted the importance of adaptability. He praised Root's unbeaten 62 off 128 balls in the first Test, which showcased a more measured approach on a slow pitch."We don't use the term 'Bazball' but we played a different style of cricket (at Old Trafford) and that's something that can keep taking us forward as a team," Pope said.Despite Stokes' absence due to injury, Pope expressed confidence in his return for the upcoming tours of Pakistan and New Zealand. He believes that the break will allow Stokes to improve his game and return refreshed.

England's Harry Brook has ascended to the fourth position in the ICC Test batting rankings, a testament to his impressive performances in the ongoing series against Sri Lanka. Brook's contributions of 56 and 32 at Old Trafford have propelled him up three spots, surpassing the likes of Babar Azam, Steven Smith, and Rohit Sharma.Joe Root remains the undisputed leader in the Test batting rankings, followed by Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell. Babar Azam's recent struggles have seen him drop six places to ninth, while Mohammad Rizwan's heroics in Pakistan's loss to Bangladesh have earned him a seven-spot jump to joint 10th with Usman Khawaja.Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim has achieved a career-high rating after his match-winning 191 against Pakistan, moving up seven spots to 17th. Sri Lanka's Prabath Jayasuriya has also made strides, climbing one place to ninth among Test bowlers after his five-wicket haul in Manchester.In the T20I rankings, West Indies' Nicholas Pooran has risen three places to ninth among batters following their 3-0 sweep of South Africa. Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie have also made significant gains, moving up to second and third spots respectively among bowlers, behind only England's Adil Rashid.These rankings reflect the dynamic nature of international cricket, with players constantly vying for supremacy. Brook's rise and Babar Azam's decline serve as reminders that form and consistency are crucial factors in determining the best players in the world.