Joe Root, the England skipper has scripted yet another Test record. During Day 1 of the ongoing third Ashes Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday, Joe Root surpassed former South Africa skipper Graeme Smith’s record of scoring most Test runs as captain in a calendar year.
Joe Root, with 1,680 runs, now tops the list ahead of Graeme Smith, who had scored 1,656 runs as the captain of the Proteas in 2008. Joe Root’s tally is also the third-highest by a player in a calendar year behind Pakistan’s Mohammad Yousuf (1,788 runs in 2006) and former West Indies skipper Sir Vivian Richards (1,710 runs in 1976).
Joe Root Scores Yet Another Fifty In 3rd Ashes Test To Surpasss Graeme Smith’s Record Of Scoring Most Runs As Skipper In A Year
England was reeling at 128 for six at Tea after Australian bowlers had dominated the proceedings in Melbourne. Australia skipper Pat Cummins, who did not play the second Test in Adelaide for an injury, took three wickets in the morning session, dismissing Haseeb Hameed (0), Zak Crawley (12), and Dawid Malan (14), respectively.
Joe Root salvaged some pride for the visitors, scoring a fine 50 off just 82 balls, before Mitchell Starc got the better of him, as England found themselves reeling at 82 for four. Cameron Green then dismissed the dangerous Ben Stokes (25) while Nathan Lyon got the wicket of Jos Buttler on the stroke of Tea, with England six down at Tea on Day 1.
Joe Root chased a widish delivery, trying to cut a delivery that was too full to do so. The ball found the edge of Joe Root’s bat with Alex Carey pouching the catch safely. A visibly angry Joe Root punched the bat in frustration. It was his ninth fifty in Australia — the most by any visitor without making a Test century.
England Was Bowled Out For 185, Australia 61/1 At Stumps On Day 1
England was bowled out for 185. Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon were the picks of the Australian bowlers, taking three wickets each. Mitchell Starc took two while Cameron Green and debutant Scott Boland also picked a wicket each to put Australia in the driver’s seat. Small cameos of resistance were offered by Joe Root, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, and Jonny Bairstow, but it wasn’t enough as England couldn’t even get to 200.
Trailing by 124 runs, Australia ended Day 1 of the ongoing third Ashes Test match posting 61 for one at Stump’s against England at the MCG in Melbourne, on Sunday.
The hosts lost the crucial wicket of David Warner, who was dismissed by James Anderson after registering 38 runs off 42 balls. England is trailing Australia 0-2 in the five-match series after being outplayed in the first two Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide, respectively.