Joe Root placed his sweat-soaked England kit on the turf to dry in the baking Multan sun after becoming the country’s leading Test run-scorer against Pakistan. Root and partner Harry Brook broke a host of records in what is likely to be a victorious first Test.
The England icon needed 71 to equal Alastair Cook’s tally of 12,472 and become the most prolific run-scorer in English Test history. He was 176 not out at the end of the first day and had written himself into cricket folklore.
Root went on to register a score of 454 in a remarkable partnership with Brook. The latter became only the sixth Englishman to score 300 or more. Their score was the fourth-highest for a wicket in the history of the sport.
A monumental innings in such scorching-hot conditions was placed into context by what he chose to do at the end of the first day. Clearly soaking wet in the Multan sun, he was spotted leaving his clothes out to dry on the pitch.
The attire even included two pairs of underwear that had been affected by the sheer heat.
Showing incredible longevity and skill, Root’s initial tally of 176 not out took England to a score of 492 for three. He battled cramping and muscle soreness as he continued through an incredible eight-hour shift at the crease.
England eventually declared with a score of 823-7. Much of that owes to the feats achieved by Root and Brook, with a number of records smashed during the Test in Pakistan.
Root insists he still has plenty more to give in Test cricket. He is the fifth-highest run scorer in history, falling behind only Sachin Tendulkar (15,921), Ricky Ponting (13,378), Jacques Kallis (13,289) and Rahul Dravid (13,288).
“I’m obviously proud but I still feel there’s plenty more left to do and many more runs to get,” he said. “I always think your best (hundred) is your next one. You’ve got to keep staying hungry and willing to find ways of contributing, ways of getting better.
“I’m sure I’ll be looking back on it at some point when I’m finished and be very proud of it.. but we’ve still got an opportunity to go and win this game which is exciting. We’ll see (how it feels) at the end of the Test match.”