N Rowland Sports Writer

When Joe Root walked off the turf in Galle with a double hundred in the first test, we applauded his efforts and recognised the brilliance of the knock in isolation but were unaware it would be the commencement of a year of greatness for England’s captain. His next hundred followed shortly after when in the second test between Sri Lanka and England also in Galle, he swept and sauntered his dominance in subcontinent heat and in the oddest of circumstances with Coronavirus at its strongest and bubble life at its strictest. However, Root was unperturbed as soon after in Chennai against India, he notched up 218 across two days against a skilled attack in an important series and in severe heat too. This was the moment whereby we were made properly aware that this was Root’s year evidenced by the return of his cheeky smile, the calmness and control with which he made his mammoth scores and the fact that he did whilst also having the responsibility of being captain and all the tasks that are associated with that role.

However, Joe Root was not done here as in a home series against India, Joe Root notched up three hundred, the third of which appeared ridiculously easy and almost routine. But, his hundreds at Trent Bridge and Lords’ were impressive in that through his accumulation of runs, he dragged us out of a perilous position and into one of relative strength. They were hundreds of a backs-to-the-wall and a defiant nature, arguably the most impressive form of tons. His passionate celebrations at Trent Bridge and Lords epitomised this, he was euphoric to have helped his team after and during a difficult period for them. But, the most impressive of his hundreds and the one that consolidated his dominant year was his one at Headingley when he swaggered onto the wicket at his home ground and looked in control throughout, so much so that Michael Vaughan, former England captain, said he knew Root would get another hundred from the moment he reached the score of 6, a demonstration of the ease in which and with which Root was able to score runs and be in control.

Furthermore, this score was unusual in that we and he started it with his side in an already dominant position because of the hundred partnership between Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed. This allowed Root to be at his most relaxed and calm and as he ran rings around the Indian attack, his year got better and better, the pundits, commentariat and supporters ran out of superlatives and the records broken became even more amazing. When he drove Ishant Sharma to the boundary, it was his 3rd consecutive hundred in the series, his 6th of the year and his 23rd overall, staggering statistics from arguably the best batsman in the world and a man that now is sat on the throne at the top table of worldwide batsmen, a place some questioned his right to be at in 2019 and 2020. But, through his sweeping in Asia and his cutting at home in this series, he is now a definite name alongside fellow great English batsman and is on course to break even more records. In fact, he has broken Michael Vaughan’s record of most Test wins as captain.

In 2021, already a great year, Root has the chance to make it a legendary year when alongside his team, he travels to Australia for the Ashes down under, an occasion not often associated with the greatest of memories for anyone of the English persuasion however, if Root could reverse his unluck in Australia and get a hundred there, we have a chance. This daunting challenge awaits the captain and with the cancellation of the final test at Old Trafford, he has time to prepare for the first test in the Australian heat.

But, until that moment, we should appreciate and be grateful for what Root has achieved so far because it has been a joy to behold and a pleasure to be able to follow. We should never take him for granted. Long live Joe