Joe Root Draws Close on Sachin Tendulkar: Second on Tests Half-Centuries: Joe Root has moved past Sachin Tendulkar to take second place on the list of half-centuries in test cricket.
Right in a spectacular show of batting form, Joe Root has narrowed the space among the all-time leading half-centuries in test cricket to come second after Sachin Tendulkar with his 67th fifty. This was the first time that Root scored a half century and it was done during an England Test match against India at the Lord s cricket ground in the 46 th over, as he elegantly drove Nitish Kumar Reddy through a four. The fans, in the crowd of the Lord, were applauding to mark one of those moments that highlight consistency and ability of Root who has represented Test cricket over ten years.
One Milestone Moment
The 67th half-century by Root puts him at the second spot after Sachin Tendulkar who is in the lead with 68 half-centuries in 200 Tests. In his 156th Test Root has surpassed West Indies great Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the former who too scored 66 half-centuries in 164 games. Such feat reveals an amazing ability of Root to endure over extended period of time and deliver under pressure which is why he is considered one of the pillars in the England batting order.
Roots milestone is not only about numbers. Test cricket is the game of the highest level and it demands a lot in the terms of skill and stamina. The fact that Root had scored half-centuries: numbers which normally stabilize a team or spark up a team, makes him one of the greats in the modern world. His journey has been that of a committed person in which every innings has contributed to his legacy.
The Half-Century beyond the Half-Century
Root pursuing his 67 th half-century in Lord Test was not the last. He also tied the record of most 50+ scores in the Test cricket with Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting with 103 scores worth 50+. Tendulkar, with 119, is the only who is ahead of them. This figure shows the reliability of Root at all formats and on all pitches, which is the distinctive feature of his playing abilities.
Moreover, Root created a record becoming the first batsman to score 3000 runs against India in Test match. He achieved this feat off Nitish Kumar Reddy in the 43rds over event which showed that he was dominant over Indian bowling attacks. Root has scored 13 half-centuries against India, second only to Pakistani Javed Miandad, who managed to achieve that score in 28 matches. This record is a testimony of the temper of Root and the skill to succeed against one of the hard nosed opponent in cricket.
Context and Impact of Match
Root played a decisive role in ongoing Test at Lord. Root, with Ollie Pope, who made a patient 44 off 104 balls, stabilised the England innings with 109 runs in the third wicket as agreements that were negotiated slowly shifted towards a possible stand. Although his innings finished in 60, Root was able to set the stage to a competitive score. His skills of holding up the innings with an aggressive mind is something that makes him very necessary to the test structure of England.
The Shadow of Tendulkar and Legacy of Root
The living legend Sachin Tendulkar who is touted as the best batsman in the history of cricket has been the epitome of cricketing perfection. His 68 half-tons and 119 50+ are that of an untried career of him. Root is making his own track, however. Although it might appear impossible to reach what Tendulkar achieved on a grand scale, Root could be able to contribute to the half a century mark. The difference has been narrowed to a mere one and cricket fans across the world are already waiting to see whether root may surpass the master blaster.
