England skipper smashed a double hundred against Sri Lanka at Galle in the first Test as England piled on 431 runs in the first innings
England have started their sub-continent tour in the new year on a great note as after bowling out Sri Lanka for just 135 runs in the first innings, the visitors amassed 431 runs in their first innings riding on their skipper Joe Root's marathon knock of 228 runs. He was the last man dismissed in England's innings as he tried to hit a big lofted shot.
Root completed his well-deserved double century on Saturday as he continued from his overnight score of 168. Root kept playing and Sri Lankan bowlers kept paying. Sri Lanka did make a comeback with the bat after Kusal Perera and Lahiru Thirimanne hit fifties but Root's innings ensured Sri Lanka are still a way behind England's total of 431.
Apart from being his second 100-plus score against and in Sri Lanka, Root broke and achieved many records on the way to his score of 228 which included 18 fours and a six during the innings.
1. Fourth Double century in Test matches
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Joe Root's 228 was his fourth 200-plus score in Test matches for England. Root has previously smashed three double centuries, against Sri Lanka at Lord's in 2014, against Pakistan at Old Trafford in 2016 where he achieved his highest Test score yet - 254 - and his last being against New Zealand at Seddon Park in 2019. While this was Root's 18th 100-plus score in 98 matches. (Image: England Cricket/ICC)
2. First England captain to have multiple double centuries
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Joe Root also became the first England captain to amass multiple double centuries. His first came as a captain against New Zealand in Hamilton in November 2019. Interestingly, Root's both the double centuries as captain came out of England, one in New Zealand and now the second in Sri Lanka. Root's previous two 200-plus scores, both came in England (at Lord's and Manchester). (Image: England Cricket/ICC)
3. Second fastest English batsman to reach 8000 Test runs
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On the way to his fourth double ton, Root achieved another huge feat, crossing the 8000-run mark in Test cricket. Root also became the second fastest English cricketer to reach the mark, surpassing the former captain Sir Alastair Cook, in 178 innings as he fell short by just two innings behind Kevin Pietersen's record as the former England batsman recahed the mark in just 176 innings.
Root also became only the 7th England batsman to achieve the feat, behind Alastair Cook, Graham Gooch, Geoffrey Boycott, Alec Stewart, Kevin Pietersen and David Gower. (Image: England Cricket/ICC)
4. Second highest score in Asia by an English batsman
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Joe Root's 228 is also the second highest individual score by an English batsman in Asia. Sir Alastair Cook tops this list as he scored 263 runs against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in the 2015 Test series. (Image: England Cricket/ICC)
5. Third youngest to achieve 8000 runs in Test cricket
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Joe Root also became the third youngest batsman in the history of Test cricket to achieve the 8000-run mark. Root (30 years and 17 days) is behind Sir Alastair Cook (29 years and 3 days) and Sachin Tendulkar (29 years and 27 days), who reached the same mark at younger ages than that of Root. (Image: England Cricket/ICC)
