England’s former Test captain Joe Root was denied a century on Day 1 of the third Test against India at Lord’s, as a dramatic moment unfolded in the final over. Root, batting on 99, looked set to reach his 37th Test hundred before Ravindra Jadeja intervened—not with the ball, but with mind games.
Root’s Gritty Knock Anchors England
Root’s composed innings of 99 not out helped England reach 251/4 at stumps after a day of slow, gritty batting on a green Lord’s surface. His 102-ball half-century was marked by seven elegant boundaries, and he held the England innings together following key dismissals, including that of world No. 1 Harry Brook.
Teaming up with Ben Stokes, Root played the anchor’s role as England shifted to a cautious approach, batting for survival and stability after India’s quick breakthroughs.
Jadeja Sparks Drama in Final Over
With just a few balls remaining in the day, Root punched a delivery from Akash Deep toward point and ran a single. As he turned for a second run—one that would have brought up his century—Stokes firmly refused from the non-striker’s end.
Jadeja, who fielded the ball, spotted the hesitation and dropped it theatrically to the ground, daring Root to take the extra run. Root declined the invitation with a smile, but the Lord’s crowd didn’t see the humour—they responded with loud boos, clearly disappointed by the missed century and the teasing.
Adding to the drama, a stump mic caught an Indian player saying, “Aaj raat ko banne mat de” (“Don’t let him score it tonight”).
Historic Milestones Within Reach for Root
Root now stands on the brink of multiple records:
- Needs 1 run to overtake Steve Smith for the most Test centuries among active players.
- A 37th century would move him to 5th on the all-time list, just one behind Kumar Sangakkara (38).
- With 13,214 Test runs, he’s just 77 runs short of surpassing Jacques Kallis (13,289) and Rahul Dravid (13,288), potentially entering the top three all-time Test run-scorers.
Team Reaction: ‘He Inspires Everyone’
After stumps, England’s Ollie Pope praised Root, saying,
“His work ethic and the way he goes about his cricket is inspirational over such a long career. Fingers crossed he can make it a massive one tomorrow.”
What’s Next at Lord’s?
With Root poised on 99*, Day 2 promises high anticipation. Can he convert this gritty innings into a landmark ton? Will Jadeja’s ploy fuel Root’s fire? The Lord’s crowd and fans around the world await.
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