Joe Root etched his name in the record books, scoring his 33rd Test century, equaling the legendary Alastair Cook’s achievement, as England asserted their dominance against Sri Lanka on the first day of the second Test at Lord’s on Thursday. England, who were struggling at 42 for two, found their rhythm with Root’s arrival at the crease. He went on to score a brilliant 143, his sixth Test century at the hallowed ground known as the ‘Home of Cricket’.
No other English batter managed to surpass Ben Duckett’s score of 40, but Gus Atkinson, the fast bowler, stole the show with his maiden Test fifty, remaining unbeaten on 74 at the end of the day. He formed a crucial partnership of 92 runs with Root for the seventh wicket, showcasing his resilience and talent in just his fifth Test match.
Earlier in the day, England’s stand-in captain Ollie Pope was dismissed for a single-digit score for the third consecutive innings, marking a challenging period for the young captain. Sri Lanka capitalized on this early opportunity, taking three wickets before Lunch after winning the toss.
Despite the favorable weather conditions, Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva decided to field first, hoping to level the series at 1-1 after England’s convincing five-wicket victory in the first Test at Old Trafford. This decision initially appeared questionable as left-handed opener Duckett struck three boundaries off Asitha Fernando in one over. However, Dan Lawrence, the makeshift opener, fell for nine runs, caught behind off Lahiru Kumara.
Pope, who had faced similar struggles in his debut as captain at Old Trafford, was dismissed for just one run when he mistimed a pull shot off Fernando, giving de Silva a well-taken catch.
The onus then fell on the seasoned shoulders of Root, who has consistently been England’s cornerstone in Test cricket. He faced a tense moment when Kumara’s full-length delivery rapped him on the pad, prompting a vociferous lbw appeal. However, umpire Paul Reiffel ruled in Root’s favor, and Sri Lanka’s review confirmed the on-field decision.
Unfortunately, the left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya struck with his very first ball, dismissing Duckett for 40, ending a promising start for the opener.
Root, having just guided England to victory with a match-winning 62 not out at Old Trafford, continued his impressive form, forming valuable partnerships with Harry Brook (33) and Jamie Smith (21), who had achieved a maiden Test century at Old Trafford.
England’s progress was momentarily halted when Chris Woakes carelessly pulled Fernando straight to long leg on just six runs, leaving England at 216 for six.
Root, nearing his century, spent 12 deliveries on 99 before elegantly guiding Kumara for four runs, completing his hundred in style, his sixth at Lord’s, and marking his 13th Test century overall. This achievement brought him level with Cook’s record of 33 Test centuries, a testament to his longevity and consistency.
Root’s century moved him into joint-10th place in the all-time list of Test century-makers, a prestigious list topped by India’s legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar. Root, who made his Test debut in 2012, stands out as the only active cricketer in this elite group, with all the others having retired from international duty.
Despite his classic batting, Root fell victim to an unorthodox ramp shot off fast bowler Milan Rathnayake, caught by Pathum Nissanka at point, ending his innings on 143.
Atkinson, who had earlier impressed with two powerful sixes off Jayasuriya, reached his maiden Test fifty off just 61 balls, demonstrating his aggressive style and ability to take on the new ball. He finished the day on 74 not out, providing a strong platform for England to build upon in the coming days.
