Joe Root has scored five centuries in 2022 and 28th Test ton so far

The true ringleader of Birmingham is Joe Root.

Even if Joe Root is no longer England’s captain, he remains their talisman and the lighthouse that points the way forwards. He conceptualized England’s record attempt in Test cricket without breaking a sweat, helped by Jonny Bairstow, who reached his fourth hundred in as many Test matches.

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As much as this Test was about Root, as fresh-faced as he burst into Test cricket, dilating the square light of grandeur around him, it was also about the validation of Bazball, the longevity, and sustenance of the idea against a perceivably lethal bowling company. Root now has the most centuries against England in Test cricket (9).

https://twitter.com/root66/status/1544301816048926722

Root retaliated against the Indian bowlers to reach his century in 136 balls. While at the crease, he hit 19 boundaries and one maximum. The former England captain teamed up with Jonny Bairstow (114 off 145) to create a 269-run partnership and lead his team to victory after the hosts fell from 107 for no loss to 109/3.

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Among current cricketers, Root currently leads the league in Test hundreds. Virat Kohli, a former Indian captain, had 27 test hundreds in November 2019, while Joe Root had 16. The latter has not increased his total in July 2022, whereas Root has. Additionally, the 31-year-old left Steve Smith in his wake (27), and Kane Williamson.

Joe Root has extended his lead at the top of the ICC Men's Test batting rankings, reaching a career-best 923 rating points.

He's also moved into 19th on the all-time batting list.

Elsewhere, Jonny Bairstow has entered the top 10 with Virat Kohli dropping to 13th. pic.twitter.com/wY8GdFKVOc

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 6, 2022

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Joe Root has already scored five centuries in 2022. He has slammed 12 hundred since 2021. The tally also includes two double-hundreds.

Most Test hundreds in Fab 4:

Root – 28* (121 matches)

Smith – 27 (86 matches)

Kohli – 27 (102 matches)

Williamson – 24 (88 matches)