England’s Joe Root smashed his 37th Test century on Day 2 of the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy match at Lord’s, entering the pantheon of modern cricket legends.
His hundred came with a signature boundary off Jasprit Bumrah, etching yet another moment of brilliance into the narrative of English cricket.
Root’s 104-run knock, compiled over 199 deliveries with 10 fours, not only surpassed the career centuries of Rahul Dravid and Steve Smith (36 each) but also solidified his reign at Lord’s—becoming the first batter to score eight Test centuries at the iconic ground. In doing so, he leapfrogged past English greats like Graham Gooch and Michael Vaughan.
Equally notable, Root’s century marked his third consecutive ton at Lord’s, a feat matched only by Michael Vaughan, Sir Jack Hobbs, and Dilip Vengsarkar. With 11 centuries against India, Root tied Smith for the most against the subcontinental side—a rivalry that continues to shape Test narratives.
Though Bumrah had the final say, dismissing Root with a searing delivery that jagged late, the Yorkshireman’s innings was emblematic of a player whose elegance and endurance continue to lift England’s Test fortunes.
As Root edges closer to cricket’s uppermost echelon—trailing only Tendulkar, Kallis, Ponting, and Sangakkara in total centuries—his legacy at Lord’s, and his lasting impact on international cricket remain undisputed.
