England's veteran batter Joe Root achieved a historic feat on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's. He scored his 33rd Test century, equaling Alastair Cook's record for the most Test centuries by an England batsman.
Joe Root clocks 33rd Test century
Root reached this milestone with a streaky boundary off a delivery from Lahiru Kumara, receiving applause from his teammates and the Lord's crowd, a venue where he has consistently excelled.
After Sri Lanka dominated the morning session, they maintained their momentum in the afternoon, taking two wickets to disrupt England's progress. Following a solid start from England's top order, the visitors' bowlers capitalized on opportunities, making crucial breakthroughs. Harry Brook, England's aggressive batsman, counter-attacked with a series of boundaries in the post-lunch session, scoring 33 runs from 38 balls. However, his innings was cut short by a sharp inswinger from Asitha Fernando, who trapped him leg-before-wicket. This wicket ended the 56-run partnership between Brook and Root, just as it was gaining momentum for England.
Batters with most Test centuries:
| Batters | Matches | Hundred |
| 200 | 51 |
| 2. Jacques Kallis (SA) | 166 | 45 |
| 3. Ricky Ponting (AUS) | 168 | 41 |
| 4. Kumar Sangakkara (SL) | 134 | 38 |
| 5. Rahul Dravid (IND) | 164 | 36 |
| 6. Younis Khan (PAK) | 118 | 34 |
| 7. Sunil Gavaskar (IND) | 125 | 34 |
| 8. Brian Lara (WI) | 131 | 34 |
| 9. Mahela Jayawardene (SL) | 149 | 34 |
| 10. Joe Root (ENG) | 145* | 33 |
| 11. Alastair Cook (ENG) | 61 | 33 |
| 12. Kane Williamson (NZ) | 100 | 32 |
| 13. Steven Smith (AUS) | 109 | 32 |
| 14. Steve Waugh (AUS) | 168 | 32 |
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Jamie Smith then paired up with joined Root at the crease. The pair managed to steady England's innings, with Smith playing cautiously while Root continued his run-scoring. However, Sri Lanka struck again, with Milan Rathnayake dismissing Smith for 21. Smith edged a delivery to the slip cordon, ending another promising partnership and keeping Sri Lanka in control. The Lord's pitch has been conducive to both batting and bowling, offering support to both sides. Root's composure and experience have been evident as he navigated through challenging spells, remaining unfazed by the wickets falling around him. His innings have showcased his mastery of concentration and shot selection, reinforcing his status as one of England's premier batsmen. Sri Lanka's bowlers have maintained a tight line and length, restricting England's run-scoring despite the occasional flurry of boundaries. Root's pursuit of his 33rd Test century remains a significant highlight of the day, with the potential to match Alastair Cook's record and further solidify his legacy in English cricket.
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