Century in 100th Test, Joe Root creates history in Chennai game against India

Joe Root's form cannot be questioned as the man on his 100th Test has gone on to score a century in the series against India in Chennai. The England skipper had managed to smash a double century and a century in the two Tests against Sri Lanka in Galle as he ended with over 426 runs and took his average in Asia to over fifty. 

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting is the only cricketer to hit centuries in both innings on his 100th Test. With this ton, Joe Root also became the ninth player and third English cricketer after Colin Cowdrey and Alec Stewart to score the triple-digit on their 100th Test.

Joe Root, who has three consecutive centuries now in his last three Tests, also the first player in history to score a hundred in his 98th, 99th and 100th Test.

Hundred in 100th Test:

Colin Cowdrey

Javed Miandad

Gordon Greenidge

Alec Stewart

Inzamam-ul-Haq

Ricky Ponting (2 X 100s)

Graeme Smith

Hashim Amla

Joe Root

You are something else, @root66 

 Test!

Let us hear you! ROOOOOOT!

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) February 5, 2021

On the occasion of his 100th Test, Joe Root had scored his 50th half-century when he thumped a short ball from left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem to the deep midwicket fence. When he notched up his milestone, he registered several milestones. 

Joe Root has a magnificent record against India in India, averaging close to 60 with five fifties and one century prior to the knock-in Chennai. In the 2016 series, Joe Root had a fifty-plus score in every Test match as he was the lone bright spot in what was a dismal campaign for England in which they lost 4-0 in the five-match series.

The Test also saw Root achieve some more milestones as the English skipper became the second England player after Sir Alastair Cook to hit fifty scores of fifty in Tests. 

Root also has scored a fifty in his first Test as well as his 50th Test in addition to his knock in the ongoing 100th Test. In his debut Test against India in Nagpur in 2012, Joe Root hit 73 and an unbeaten 20 to help England draw the match in Jamtha and register a famous series win. 

Root's career in India has seen him score 73, 20*, 124, 4, 53, 25, 15, 78, 21, 77, 88, 6 and now this 100. Root was even presented with a special cap on the occasion of his 100th Test as he became the 15th player from England and the third youngest overall to play 100 Tests after Alastair Cook and Sachin Tendulkar.