England captain Joe Root has converted his century into double hundred on Day 2 of the first Test against India at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
He has now notched up the highest score by a player in his 100th Test, surpassing Pakistan’s Inzamam-ul-Haq’s 184 against India in Bengaluru in 2005.
The right-handed batsman smashed a six off Ravichandran Ashwin in the 143rd over to reach the extraordinary milestone. It is his fifth double century in the longest format and second in three Tests.
It is also the highest individual score for an England captain in India. In all Tests, involving these two nations, the only English skipper to score more is Graham Gooch (333 at Lord’s, 1990).
For India, the experienced trio of Ishant Sharma (0/37), Jasprit Bumrah (2/57) and Ravichandran Ashwin (1/92) tried their best but could not break the Root-Stokes partnership, which is looking ominous from the host’s point of view.
Most Double Tons in Tests for England:
7 – Wally Hammond
5 – Joe Root *
5 – Alastair Cook
It was the 15th double ton by a visiting batsman in India. Interestingly, five of which have come in Chennai.
Double centuries in Chennai by a visiting batsman:
- 207 – Mike Gatting
- 201 – Graeme Fowler
- 210 – Dean Jones
- 203 – Matthew Hayden
- 218 – Joe Root
In the 154th over, Shahbaz Nadeem trapped Root in front to end the sensational innings. The English skipper made 218 from 377 balls with 19 fours and 2 sixes.
