England’s star batter Joe Root lit up the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground with a flurry of records on Day 1 of the third Test against India. At the close of play, Root was unbeaten on 99. If he reaches his century on Friday, he will surpass both Steve Smith and Rahul Dravid to enter the top 5 for most Test centuries.
Root has now become the highest run-scorer across all formats at Lord’s. He has scored 2,526 runs in 33 matches at this venue, overtaking Graham Gooch’s previous record of 2,513 runs.
The former England captain has also created history by becoming the only batter to score 3,000 Test runs against India. In 33 Tests against India, Root has amassed 3,054 runs, including 10 centuries. With this feat, he joins the elite club of players with over 3,000 runs in a non-Ashes Test rivalry, alongside legends like Garry Sobers and Sachin Tendulkar.
At Lord’s, Root stood firm at one end, and just one run on Day 2 will bring up his 37th Test hundred. That would place him fifth on the all-time list for most Test centuries, ahead of Steve Smith and Rahul Dravid.
This knock also marked Root’s 103rd 50+ score in Test cricket—comprising 36 centuries and 67 fifties. He now trails only Sachin Tendulkar, who had 119 fifty-plus scores in Tests. Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting also had 103 such scores, equalling Root’s tally.
If Root scores just one more run on Friday, he will register his 55th century in international cricket and equal Hashim Amla’s tally.
On Day 1 at Lord’s, England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bat first. In the 14th over, Nitish Kumar Reddy gave India its first breakthrough by dismissing Ben Duckett for 23. In the same over, he removed Zak Crawley for 18.
After that, Joe Root and Ollie Pope stitched together a crucial century partnership for the third wicket, which was broken by Ravindra Jadeja. Jasprit Bumrah then dismissed Harry Brook to give India its fourth success.
At stumps, England were 251 for 4 in their first innings. Root was unbeaten on 99, and Stokes was not out on 39.