Joe Root has added another accolade to his name after registering third-most Test runs in history in a calendar year on Tuesday, December 28, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Even though England suffered a crushing defeat in the Ashes 2021-22 series, Joe Root continued with his consistent form.
After being dismissed for 28 on day three of the third Test in Melbourne, he finished the year with 1,708 runs at an average of 61.00, second only behind Pakistan’s Mohammad Yousuf (1,788) and West Indian icon Viv Richards (1,788). (1,710 in 1976). After England’s thrashing by Australia, further doubts about his captaincy will be raised, although Root has been in superb form with the bat this year.
Following Joe Root, second in the line is opener Rory Burns, who scored 530 runs this year at 27.89, who is followed by Jonny Bairstow with 391 runs at 24.43.
The England skipper surpassed legendary players Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar to record 1,600 runs at the second Test in Adelaide and then also outshined South Africa’s Graeme Smith (1,656 in 2008) in Melbourne.
“I obviously feel like I’m playing really nicely at the minute but I would obviously swap it all for Test match wins,” said the 30-year old Root after England’s an innings and 14 runs defeat in Melbourne.
“Any player will tell you that there’s no better feeling in cricket than winning a Test match.”
“It’s great that I feel like my game is improving and evolving still as a player, even having played quite a lot of cricket, and I’m desperate to keep doing that,” he added.
On the third day of the third Test of the Ashes 2021-22, debutant Scott Boland completed his six wickets tally to lead Australia to an innings and 14 runs victory before lunch. He added up his two wickets from three balls during a devastating last hour on the second day with four more on the following morning to complete an innings victory and ensure the hosts maintained the urn.
Mitchell Starc, who had an instrumental role in reducing England to 31 for 4 in a cauldron-like environment on day two, added the wicket of Ben Stokes, who had returned to the crease on two, but his dismal trip continued as he was clean bowled for 11 by Starc inside the first 25 minutes of the resumption, who finished with 3 for 29. Jonny Bairstow hit five, and after Root was gone, it was game over, with the tailenders following suit.
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