Alastair Cook hails Joe Root as England's greatest after the latter's record-breaking 34th test hundred

Joe Root broke Alastair Cook’s record of most test tons by an England batter.

Legendary England cricketer Sir Alastair Cook heaped massive praise on batter Joe Root as the latter surpassed the former’s record for most test tons by an England batter.

The 33-year-old Root achieved this historic feat when he slammed his 34th test hundred in the second innings of the ongoing second test against Sri Lanka at the Lord’s. Root made 103 runs off 121 deliveries, including 10 boundaries. 

Veteran batter Root surpassed Cook’s tally of 33 test centuries, becoming most successful English batter in terms of centuries in test cricket.

Notably, Root also had hammered a stunning century in the first innings of the ongoing second test match against Sri Lanka, making 143 runs off 206 deliveries, including 18 boundaries.

England’s greatest: Alastair Cook after Root’s 34th test century

Sir Alastair Cook, who was England’s captain in each of Root’s first 53 tests, termed the 33-year-old as ‘England’s greatest,’ after Root hammered record-breaking test century against visitors Sri Lanka at Lord’s.

“He is quite simply England’s greatest, and it’s absolutely right that he should have this record, on his own. Take it in, Joe. We are watching a genius,” Cook said on commentary for the BBC’s Test Match Special.

“I don’t think there’s a batsman that I can remember watching play [who shares] the sense of inevitability about scoring runs that Joe Root gives off. I called it when he was on about 6 today, that he was going to get 100. I know he’s in great form, but it’s just a pleasure to watch a master, a craftsman at work,” Cook added.

Just got the final one to tick off next week: Cook on Root approaching of most runs in tests by an England batter

After smashing back-to-back centuries at Lord’s against Sri Lanka, Root has now scored 12377 runs in 145 matches so far.

Notably, the veteran batter Root needs 95 more runs to surpass Alastair Cook and become England’s highest run-scorer in test cricket.

Cook, who finished his illustrious test career at 12472 runs in 161 matches, said that Root could surely become the leading run-getter for England in test cricket in the upcoming third test match against Sri Lanka at the Oval.

“He’s just got the final one to tick off next week. In this kind of form, there’s no reason why he can’t,” Cook said.

Here are some of the records made by Joe Root in the second test vs Sri Lanka at Lord’s

Most hundreds in tests for England

• 34 – Joe Root
• 33 – Alastair Cook
• 23 – Kevin Pietersen
• 22 – Wally Hammond
• 22 – Colin Cowdrey
• 22 – Geoffrey Boycott
• 22 – Ian Bell

England batters with most test hundreds at a venue

• 7 – Joe Root at Lord’s
• 6 – Graham Gooch at Lord’s
• 6 – Michael Vaughan at Lord’s

Players with twin hundreds in a test at the Lord’s

• George Headley vs ENG, 1939
• Graham Gooch vs IND, 1990
• Michael Vaughan vs WI, 2004
• Joe Root vs SL, 2024

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.