'Never grow up, Joe' - England's Peter Pan plays Rootball

“In this occupation you tin beryllium a spot for illustration Peter Pan, you ne'er really person to turn up.”

Joe Root was opinionated connected nan outfield astatine Old Trafford aft guiding England to triumph complete Sri Lanka successful nan first Test.

It’s an apt comparison. When Root joined England for his first circuit successful 2012, he was truthful young-looking that spinner Graeme Swann compared him to nan squad mascot.

Even aft much Tests arsenic skipper than immoderate different England player, a occupation that tin make a man doubly arsenic aged and half arsenic happy, Root remains babe faced and impish astatine nan crease. The batter that ne'er grew up, Test cricket his Neverland.

But Bazball threatened to move Root into a Lost Boy. Though his shape remained fantabulous done nan first shape of nan Ben Stokes-Brendon McCullum era, Root himself admitted to being unsure of his domiciled successful nan caller world.

A squad man and a loyal friend to Stokes, Root would person been astatine pains to support nan connection of ultra-positivity. Root’s reverse-scoop became some a awesome of nan revamped England, but a threat to nan effectiveness of their top batter.

Alastair Cook, Root’s predecessor arsenic Test captain, recognised Root’s predicament.

“As a erstwhile skipper who fitted backmost into nan set-up, you’re truthful alert of not stepping connected toes, not saying worldly successful squad meetings that is different to nan captain’s message,” said Cook.

“I decidedly disagreed pinch immoderate things Joe Root did arsenic captain, but ne'er would person said it successful a meeting, alternatively complete a brew down closed doors.

“When Ben Stokes was saying he wanted to play successful a definite way, Root would person been over-conscious to make judge he wasn’t nan personification that didn’t bargain in.”

The reverse-scoop (the Roop?) was deployed pinch occurrence successful nan early portion of Stokes’ reign, but first costs Root his wicket against New Zealand astatine Mount Manganui successful early 2023.

Later that year, his effort to reverse Pat Cummins became 1 of nan astir celebrated dot balls successful Ashes history. Root missed, but by trying nan changeable to nan first shot of nan 4th time of nan opening Test astatine Edgbaston, he made England’s intentions clear.

In India, it unravelled. Root’s reverse astatine Jasprit Bumrah successful nan 3rd Test astatine Rajkot was caught astatine slip, sparked an England illness and caused a nationalist statement complete nan harm being done to 1 to 1 of nan country’s astir treasured assets. Like asking David Attenborough to sound wildlife connected nan caput and effort grime euphony instead.

Only Root will cognize what he contemplated successful nan aftermath, but since that infinitesimal he has been impeccable pinch nan bat.

Root has made astatine slightest 1 half-century successful each of nan six Tests pursuing nan Rajkot reverse, including 3 hundreds, culminating pinch a sublime 143 against Sri Lanka astatine Lord’s connected Thursday.

In that time, Root is averaging 87 pinch a strike-rate of 58.8, conscionable a smidge supra his profession complaint of 56.8. While England Bazball, Root has recovered a measurement to Rootball.

After Rajkot and until this Test astatine Lord's, Root attempted only 2 reverse scoops, 1 aft passing 3 figures against West Indies astatine Trent Bridge, nan different pinch nan crippled astatine Old Trafford successful nan bag. He missed nan 2nd one, too.

This ton was an exhibition, a ruthless exploitation of perfect batting conditions while others astir him recovered ways to get out.

Root’s defence was immaculate, nan tucks disconnected his pads crisp and timing done nan disconnected broadside sweet.

His only infinitesimal of uncertainty came successful 12 deliveries spent connected 99, nan astir successful his Test profession and longest by immoderate England batter successful a Test for 24 years. When he yet sewage to 3 figures, Root paid tribute to Graham Thorpe, nan precocious erstwhile England batter and batting coach who had specified an power connected his career.

It was a twist for specified an unblemished innings to beryllium ended by nan 3rd post-Rajkot reverse, arsenic Root’s scoop astatine Milan Rathnayake ended successful nan hands of point. There were only 2 and a half overs to spell until nan 2nd caller ball.

“I don’t for illustration to beryllium driven by fear,” Root explained to Test Match Special afterwards. “You are looking for opportunities, really you’re going to people and move nan crippled forward. I felt for illustration I’d earned nan correct to do that successful that situation.

“It was astir trying to mentally put a nail successful nan coffin going into nan 2nd caller shot and driving location successful nan past hour. We could person ended up getting 30 aliases 40 much runs if that was nan case.”

By nan clip nan latest reverse caused his downfall, Root had notched much records successful what will extremity arsenic nan astir prolific profession England Test cricket, and perchance moreover nan crippled arsenic a whole, will ever see.

This was his 33rd Test century, equalling Cook arsenic England’s astir hundred-hungry batter. Six Test tons astatine Lord’s is simply a joint-record and Root went past Cook for astir Test runs successful this country.

Root needs different 198 runs to overhaul Cook’s 12,472 arsenic nan astir by an England batter successful Tests. He could get location earlier nan summertime is out, aliases successful Pakistan successful October astatine nan latest. After that, it will beryllium chipping up nan database towards Sachin Tendulkar’s 15,921. Even if Root does not walk nan Little Master, he will almost surely discontinue pinch an magnitude nary different subordinate that follows him will match.

There will remain, though, 1 accomplishment of Cook’s to emulate. Sir Chef has 5 hundreds successful Australia, including 3 connected nan glorious Ashes-winning circuit of 2010-11. Root has yet to scope 3 figures down under, an itch to scratch successful conscionable complete a year’s time.

Nearing his 34th birthday, Root is now astir nan aforesaid property arsenic Cook erstwhile nan opener ended his Test profession successful 2018, but successful his ain words, has “still rather a batch much to do”.

On 145 caps, he has missed conscionable 2 Tests since he made his debut and, pursuing injuries to Stokes and Zak Crawley, is nan only Bazball ever-present.

To adjacent into his hunger for scoring Test runs, we tin revisit that India circuit and nan aftermath of nan Bumrah incident.

“I’m trying to play really I deliberation is nan champion measurement to people runs,” said Root successful February. “As an knowledgeable player, nan magnitude of cricket I’ve played, you spot your instincts successful nan moment.

“The logic that I’ve been capable to play arsenic galore games arsenic I person and been fortunate to play arsenic galore games arsenic I person is because, nether pressure, a batch of times I’ve manged to make those correct decisions.

“We’re each England fans successful that dressing room, we each want nan champion for England cricket. We will proceed to do everything we tin to triumph arsenic galore games arsenic we tin and get nan champion retired of each other.”

Never turn up, Joe.