Joe Root on Sunday became just the second England batter to score 10,000 Test runs during a match-winning hundred against New Zealand at Lord's. The 31-year-old Yorkshireman may have left the leadership role, but his knack for scoring runs doesn't seem to have affected a bit. His composed 115 not out steered England who had been faltering at 69 for four, to the 277-run target, as the hosts won by five wickets over the World Test champions with more than a day to spare. (Also Read | Ashwin messages me 'You've a spot in Test XI, for some people it takes time': KKR star reveals compliments from 'legend')
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Root remains far and away England's best batter at present, and his hundred was the difference between the two sides at the 'Home of Cricket'. But it wasn't just that. Root instantly made waves on Twitter for his bat-balancing 'magic' at the non-striker's end. In a widely-circulated clip on the social media platform, his bat can be seen standing on its own, leaving users puzzled.
"I knew @root66 was talented but not as magic as this……. What is this sorcery?" wrote a Twitter user, who triggered a discussion over the Englishman's bat.
"Seriously is that bat holding itself up or is Joe Root even more of a magician??" wrote another Twitter user.
England went 1-0 in the Test series, thanks to Root's sublime ton. It was his first fourth-innings hundred at this level. He also got support from wicketkeeper Ben Foakes (32 not out) in an unbroken stand of 120. The duo denied New Zealand a breakthrough after the hosts resumed Sunday on their overnight 216 for five.
{{/usCountry}}England went 1-0 in the Test series, thanks to Root's sublime ton. It was his first fourth-innings hundred at this level. He also got support from wicketkeeper Ben Foakes (32 not out) in an unbroken stand of 120. The duo denied New Zealand a breakthrough after the hosts resumed Sunday on their overnight 216 for five.
{{/usCountry}}With his hundred, Root also became just the 14th batsman and only second from England to reach the landmark total of 10,000 career Test runs. He was also the joint youngest player to score 10,000 Test runs, equalling former England captain Alastair Cook's record of 31 years 157 days.
'Mr Dependable', Joe Root, stood up. Scoring 100 and 10,000 runs -- what a player and what a man," said Ben Stokes at the presentation ceremony.
Root, who claimed the player-of-the-match award, added: "Obviously it feels fantastic. More than anything, first of all, for us to have won this Test match after such a long time is the greatest feeling of all.
"I absolutely love the group of players that we play with and I couldn't wish for a better person to be leading this team."
Root also spoke about his "unhealthy relationship" with England captaincy, which started taking a toll on the cricketer's health. He now wants to play an influential role in turning the team into a force once again on the Test stage.
"It had become a very unhealthy relationship to be honest, the captaincy and me. It started to really take a bad toll on my own personal health. I couldn't leave it on the ground anymore, it was coming home.
"It wasn't fair on my family, on people close to me and it wasn't fair on myself either," he added.