Joe Root added another feather to his cap in the fifth and final Test of the ongoing Ashes series at the Kennington Oval in London. Riding his luck after being dropped on three occasions, the England skipper scored a patient half-century on Day 1 of the fifth Test against Time Paine-led Australia.
Root has as many as three ducks to his name and is yet to convert his healthy starts into something big. The swashbuckling batsman has failed to reach the triple-digit mark in the first four Tests played as part of the Ashes and was eyeing to break the jinx in the first innings of the final Test match. Batting on 24, Root was first waved off for the first time in Pat Cummins’ over when the returning Peter Siddle dropped a dolly of a catch at deep fine leg.
Topping Siddle in the next Cummins over, the England skipper received a second lifeline when his Australian counterpart failed to pluck a one-handed stunner. Another sharp catch was dropped by Steve Smith after lunch to make sure Root complete 7,000 Test runs in his 158th innings for England.
Root was 28 years and 256 days old at the time, meaning he is now the third youngest Test player to 7,000 runs. Root’s feat is only bettered by former England skipper Alastair Cook (27 years, 346 days) and Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar (28 years and 193 days).
The right-handed batsman is also the fourth fastest Englishman to complete this milestone. The 12th England cricketer to net 7,000 runs is only behind Wally Hammond. Kevin Pietersen and Cook in terms of being the quickest England batsmen to claim this unique landmark. The England skipper is also ahead of Sir Donald Bradman. The Aussie legend had bagged a duck to end his Test career with 6,996 runs.
