Joe Root, the seasoned England batter, became the new No. 1 batter in the Test on June 21, according to the recent ICC rankings. He replaced Marnus Labuschagne, who had been the top-ranked Test batter in men’s cricket since December 2022.
In the recent Test rankings for men’s batters, Root occupies the top niche with 887 points, followed by Kane Williamson and Labuschagne. Root’s rise to the top is the result of a fantastic run in Test justice over the last time, during which he has played some excellent innings, scoring 974 runs in 12 Tests at an average of 60.87, with three hundred.
Let’s recall Five of Joe Root Stylish knocks in the past 12 months
73 vs Pakistan, Rawalpindi
December 2022 In the first Test of the three-match series, England beat Pakistan by 74 runs in Rawalpindi. Root scored 73 off 69 balls, and England amassed 657 runs in the first innings with four players scoring tons. Pakistan responded with 579 runs, and England declared their alternate innings on 264- 7 in only 35.5 overs. Root and Brook( 87 off 65) added 96 for the fourth gate. England sailed out Pakistan for 268 to register a notorious win by 74 runs while defending a target of 343.
86 vs New Zealand, Leeds
June 2022 In the three-match series against New Zealand, England clean-swept with Root scoring a brisk 86 not-out off 125, as they chased down 296 to win by seven wickets in Leeds. Root and Pope( 82) added 134 for the third gate. Root added 111 for the fourth gate with Jonny Bairstow, who smashed an unbeaten 71 off 44 balls, while striking 11 fours and a six. Root was named Player of the Series for scoring 396 runs in six innings at an average of 99.
118 vs Australia, Edgbaston
June 2023 On Day 1 of the first Ashes 2023 Test at Edgbaston, Root continued his amazing batting form, slamming 118 not-out off 152. After England won the toss and chose to club first, they were three down for 124. still, Root raised the hosts, hitting seven fours and four sixes in his 269-minute stay. He added 121 runs for the sixth wicket with Bairstow( 78 off 78) as England declared their first innings on 393- 8 in sync with their ‘ Bazball ’ philosophy. Australia replied with 386, with Usman Khawaja scoring 141. Root contributed 46 off 55 in the alternate inning. England bowled out for 273 and went on to lose the thrilling Test by two wickets as Australia chased down a target of 281.
153 & 95 vs New Zealand, Wellington
February 2023 In the alternate Test of the two-match series in Wellington, Root scored a superb 153 not-out off 224 balls after New Zealand won the toss and invited England to bat first. The Englishmen were three down for 21, but Root and Brook( 186 off 176) added 302 for the fourth wicket. Root struck ten fours and three sixes in his 376-minute stay as England declared their first innings on 435- 8. He scored a superb 95 off 113 in the alternate innings as well. England bowled out for 256 in a chase of 258, and Root was the seventh wicket to fall for 202 as he miscued a short ball from Neil Wagner.
142 vs India, Edgbaston
July 2022, in the rescheduled Test against India, Root was one of the stars for England as they pulled off the highest chase at Edgbaston. England was given a target of 378 but lost three wickets for 109. Root(142 off 173) and Bairstow(114 off 145), added 269 runs for the fourth wicket to raise England to an extraordinary come-from-behind win. India had scored 416 while batting first with Rishabh Pant(146) and Ravindra Jadeja(104) hitting excellent centuries. Despite Bairstow’s 106, England was limited to 284 in their first innings. India was dismissed for 245 in their alternate innings, after which Root and Bairstow secured England’s memorable win.
