Joe Root produced a masterclass with the willow, scoring a breathtaking 150 to become the second-highest Test run-scorer in history, as captain Ben Stokes battled cramp to post an unbeaten 77, as England tightened their hold on India on day three of the fourth Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test at Old Trafford on Friday.
Resuming on 225/2, England added 319 runs for the loss of five wickets, to propel themselves to a dominant score and post a massive 186-run lead.
Root was the anchor of the innings, combining finesse with clinical ruthlessness to move past legends Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid, and Ricky Ponting on the all-time Test run ladder, adding his 38th Test century in the process.
His 144-run stand with Ollie Pope, who added a gritty 71, set the tone for England's supremacy. Stokes then came in and scored his highest so far in the series, standing firm despite cramping his left calf in the last session. With Liam Dawson (21 not out), Stokes made sure England finished on top on the day.
India's bowling line was failing to put pressure, often failing to pitch their lengths right and looking devoid of thought, conceding runs with minimal resistance. England took full advantage, putting the visitors' efforts to muster a comeback into the game ever tougher.
Jasprit Bumrah started the post-tea session with the ball but could not get into a rhythm. Root was still going great, hitting Shardul Thakur through mid-on for a boundary, while Stokes sent a full ball from Bumrah easily through the covers.
Having completed his 36th Test half-century, Stokes reverse-swept Ravindra Jadeja for four and then pulled Washington Sundar to the fence once more. Discomfort in the 115th over, though, compelled him to retire hurt on 66, the ECB later confirming he was struggling with cramp. He returned later in the match.
Root's incredible knock—his 16th 150-plus Test innings—came to an end on 150 after Jadeja outsmarted him with a seam-up delivery that turned sharply, beating the bat and enabling Dhruv Jurel to effect a sharp stumping.
Immediately upon his comeback, Bumrah struck sending one back to Jamie Smith whose edge was well taken low by Jurel. It was Bumrah's 50th Test wicket in England. Mohammed Siraj joined into the act by crashing Chris Woakes onto the stump by a low delivery getting the inside edge and cannoning onto the stumps.
In spite of wickets lost, England finished the day in comfortable control, with Stokes coming back to support Dawson and finishing the last overs intact.
Brief Scores:
India – 358 in 114.1 overs (B Sai Sudharsan 61; Ben Stokes 5/72)
England – 544/7 in 135 overs (Joe Root 150, Ben Duckett 94; Washington Sundar 2/57, Ravindra Jadeja 2/117)
England lead by 186 runs
