Joe Root had a field day for England on day four of the ongoing first Test against Pakistan at Multan. Root, along with Harry Brook, made the host’s bowlers bowl their lungs out as England demolished plenty of records.
Joe Root made his 6th double ton, scoring 262, his highest Test score. In the process, he also became England's all-time top run scorer after he surpassed batting great Alastair Cook. Root's knock has placed him fifth on the all-time list with 12,664 runs and Cook also backed his former teammate to surpass Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar's record of 15,921 runs.
Not only did he plunder runs, but added 454 runs for the 4th wicket with Harry Brook, who smashed 317. They propelled England to 823/7d in reply to Pakistan’s first innings score of 556 runs. This is the highest score in Tests by a team in Pakistan and the 454-run partnership was the highest by England for any wicket against Pakistan.
Root's first task, however, is the Test against Pakistan, who are 152-6. An outcome that once seemed implausible after almost 1,400 runs were achieved in the first innings on a flat surface now appears plausible following Pakistan's top-order collapse.
"They (records) are pretty cool things. It would mean a lot more if we can win this Test match. You look at the situation where they had 556 on the scoreboard and to be ahead in the game is the best thing. It doesn't mean a lot at the moment. I feel like I am going to play a lot more cricket for England. It's obviously nice and I am sure when I finish my career, I will look back and feel good about it.
It will be a nice thing to look back on at the right time. I want to contribute for a long while and make big scores like this one and hopefully win more Test matches for England,” Root told BBC.
His 454 partnership with Brook is the fourth-highest in Tests and Root said his fellow Yorkshireman was 'outstanding' with his triple-ton.
"Everyone who spends time on the wicket has looked good and made the most of a good batting wicket. It was nice for us to get together and keep the partnership going. I think we keep each other going. We have a good laugh out there in the middle. We've played a lot of cricket together whether it be for Yorkshire or England. He's fun to play with,” Root said on Brook.
On the other hand, Harry Brook scored his 4th three-figure score in as many Tests in Pakistan. His 317 made him the sixth England player to hit a Test triple ton and the first in Pakistan. He also broke Virender Sehwag’s record of 309, for the highest individual Test score in Multan.
However, Brook said he was delighted he had finally eclipsed his father's highest club score.
"I just wanted to get past my dad's high score 210. said that to you guys before, I was pretty happy when I got past his score, to be honest. I am at a lost for words, to be honest, I'm just happy that the team's in a strong position to win the game tomorrow morning. It's an incredible thing,” Brook said.
Brook also had good things to say about his England and Yorkshire teammate Joe Root.
"It was wonderful batting with Rooty. We spoke about the game moving forward and going out there after lunch to try and put the foot down and get a decent lead. It makes you feel so comfortable when you're watching him at the other end, he makes the game look so easy, and he's playing the ball so late and making the balls look slow,” he added.
With a big 267-run lead over Pakistan in the first innings, England then caught the home team napping at 152-6. At close, Pakistan still needed 115 to avoid an innings defeat on the final day Friday.
(Reuters and AFP inputs)
