England’s captain Joe Root is in the form of his life at the moment. The England’s captain sublime 121 off 165 balls in the third test against India was his third century of the series and sixth of the year.
The ease in which he is racking up the runs is a wonderful sight for England fans. Already in this calendar year he has scored 1,398 runs in 11 tests. Root is currently averaging shy of 70 with four centuries and two double hundreds.
The manner of how he has dominated English cricket this year in general is frightening. So many times he has come to the crease with England and single handily rescued them.
Runs continue to flow from Root
However, in this current third test he went in with England in a dominate position. It still didn’t stop him scoring yet another century and looking the class player on show.
Undoubtably this has been the year of the Root. The 1,398 runs he has already scored has put him fourth on the list of runs cored in a calendar year by an English batsman. Jonny Bairstow amassed 1,470 in 20163 with Root hitting 1,477 in the same year. At the head of the list is another Yorkshire legend Michael Vaughan. The former English captain scored 1,481 runs in 2002.
Root, though could still play another five tests this year. It would appear almost certain he will end the year at the top of the pile. His six hundreds ties him with Vaughan and Denis Compton. Root has also made three consecutive tests twice this year.
England still relying on their captain
What is more remarkable is the performance of his team mates. England’s second highest run scorer is Rory Burns with 424, almost 1,00o fewer than Root.
In two test already in this series Root has scored more runs than any other England batsman has managed all year.
With two more tests to come and then the small matter of the Ashes, we can expect more from the bat of Root.
Whatever the situation England find themselves in we know we can rely on captain fantastic Root to dominate the bowling. At this rate Root could find himself an early candidate for SPOTY.
Bowlers will be relieved if Roots form does dip. At the moment that isn’t looking likely. If anything there looks plenty more runs to come of the bat of Joe Root.