Joe Root entered a prestigious list on Saturday as he became the seventh England player to go past 8000 runs in Tests. Playing in his 98th Test, the England cricket team captain got to the landmark when he swept Lasith Embuldeniya for a couple to deep midwicket. Joe Root became the seventh player after Alastair Cook, Graham Gooch, Geoffrey Boycott, Alec Stewart, Kevin Pietersen and David Gower. Joe Root is the only England player to have gotten 8000 Test runs before playing 100 Tests. The England skipper is in line to play his 100th Test in the clash against India in Chennai, having made his debut in India in 2013 in Nagpur.
Joe Root’s day only got better as he smashed a double century. This was Joe Root’s fourth double century and his knock against Sri Lanka was his second against the Lankans on their home turf, having hit a century in 2018 in Pallekele. Currently, England has gone past 400 with Joe Root batting aggressively as England’s lead neared 300 on the third day. England has won four consecutive Tests against Sri Lanka in their country, having won in 2012 and they achieved history in 2018 as they whitewashed Sri Lanka for the first time in their country by winning the Tests 3-0.
England in dominant position
On Friday, Root smashed his 18th century to give the visitors the upper hand in the match after bundling Sri Lanka out for 135 in the first innings. Earlier, resuming the innings at 127/2 on day two, England had a poor start as Jonny Bairstow was sent back by Lasith Embuldeniya in the second over of the day. Captain Root was then joined by Dan Lawrence. The duo played brilliantly and took the team over the 200-run mark, with Root completing his 18th Test century.
Soon after that, Lawrence scored his fifty as England grew in confidence against a home-team attack that lacked bite. The duo stitched a 173-run partnership before Dilruwan Perera removed Lawrence (73). Jos Buttler then came out to bat, however, a few overs later, rain hampered the game.
