Joe Root tops Labuschagne, claims Test batting throne with back-to-back tons

Joe Root celebrated his first outing since relieving himself from captaincy with a dexterous 115*, an innings which orchestrated a run-chase for ages at Lord’s. In his subsequent batting recital, the industrious batter compiled a rapid 176. The visiting New Zealanders, the victim in both instances, sustained identical defeats in both Test matches.

Remarkably, Root also scaled the 10,000-run mark during his first twin tons in this series. Additionally, in the second Test at Nottingham, the Yorkshire-lad equalled Virat Kohli and Steve Smith’s tally of 27 Test hundreds.

On top of it all, the 119-Test veteran has now leapfrogged Australia’s run-machine Marnus Labuschagne to claim the number 1 spot in ICC’s Test batting rankings.

As per the latest update by the International Cricket Council, the former English captain now has a total of 897 rating points, five more than the Australian batting star. The 31-year-old English cricketer has plundered four Test centuries this year, including two in the ongoing home series against New Zealand.

Smith currently occupies the number 3 slot, while Pakistan and New Zealand Test skippers Babar Azam and Kane Williamson make up the top five.

Despite England’s remarkable run-chase special in the final-hour thriller at Trent Bridge, the hosts have docked two points due to their slow over-rate. 

Initially, their points rose to 42 but now occupy their eighth spot in the ICC World Test Championship standings with 40 points. Their point percentage also fell from 25 to 23.80.

Hosts England will now face New Zealand in the final Test of the series at Headingley, Leeds. The match will be played between June 23 and 27. 

Meanwhile, Root, who is enjoying his supreme status as the number 1 Test batter, will get another shot to extend his batting dominance when his side face India in a one-off Test match next month.