Joe Root equals legends with another double century in Multan Test
This impressive milestone brings Root level with legendary batters such as Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, and Virender Sehwag in terms of double centuries in the longest format.
England's Joe Root smashed his sixth double century in Test cricket during the ongoing first match against Pakistan in Multan.
Root was given a lifeline when Babar Azam dropped a catch when he was on 186. Seizing the opportunity, the England batter made the most of it and powered his way to the 200-run mark, celebrating by taking off his helmet and kissing the badge. This double century marks his second major achievement in this Test series against Pakistan.
Root has now surpassed India's Rahul Dravid, who had recorded five double centuries in his illustrious Test career. His performance solidifies his place among the elite batters in Test cricket.
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Here are the top players with the most double centuries in Test cricket:
- Sir Donald Bradman: 12
- Kumar Sangakkara: 11
- Brian Lara: 9
- Wally Hammond: 7
- Mahela Jayawardene: 7
- Virat Kohli: 7
- Joe Root: 6
- Kane Williamson: 6
Root's masterful innings further cements his status as one of the modern greats in cricket.
Joe Root and Harry Brook's 409-run partnership is also one of the largest in Test cricket history, as they reached lunch on day four in Multan.
Root was 259* (368) with Brook 218* (257) as the English pair easily surpassed Pakistan's first-innings total of 556 all out.
They went into the break at 3-658 with a lead of 102 runs, both men breaking their personal records for high scores in a Test.
Their partnership of 409 to that point was the 15th-biggest in Test history, and the best since Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh put on 449 for the fourth wicket in Australia's demolition of the West Indies in Hobart in December 2015.
Root and Brook look bound to break England's all-time record of 411, set in 1957, and could reach the top three with the third-highest total sitting at 467.
The largest Test partnership is Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene's 624 for the third wicket in Sri Lanka's win over South Africa at Colombo in July 2006.
