For Root, this hundred was special, as he had played 16 Tests in Australia but never scored a century. His previous best score was 89. This innings ended a long wait and reminded everyone why Joe Root is considered one of the best Test batsmen of this generation.

This century, Joe Root became the 40th Test player to reach 40 Test hundreds, putting him among the top players in the history of the game.

Comparison with Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar is still far ahead in Test records. He has 51 Test centuries and 15,921 runs, the most by any player. Root, with around 13,600+ runs and 40 centuries, is slowly moving closer, but Sachin’s records are still very tough to break. Sachin also played 200 Tests, while Root has played about 160 so far.

Still, Root’s consistency in the last few years shows that he might come close to Sachin’s run tally if he continues playing at this level for a few more years.

NZ – 224-6 (36.4)

Player of the Match – Harry Brook

New Zealand vs England, on Sunday, October 26, at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui.

New Zealand won the toss and opted to bowl first. Matt Henry was pumped up on his first ball. He bowled out Jamie Smith. In the second over, Zakary Foulkes took the wicket of Ben Duckett, and in the same over, Foulkes bowled out Root. The top 3 of England fall in just 2 overs. 

Foulkes again bowled out Jacob Bethell. Wicket-keeper batsman Butler got on Matt Henry’s ball. Zakary Foulkes was a tough challenge for England, and Sam Curran also found it difficult to read Foulkes. England scored 58-6, but captain Harry Brook had other plans.

Harry Brook charged against the bowlers. Brook and Jamie Overton built a partnership, but Jacob Duffy took 2 wickets in 2 balls, and Jamie got out on 46 and Brydon on a duck. Jacob Duffy took Adil Rashid’s wicket.  But Brook didn’t stop; he smashed a hundred and started charging every ball. Got out on Santer’s ball; he scored 135 runs in just 101 balls. England posts a total of 223 runs.

New Zealand’s start was similar to England’s. Brydon Carse got 2 in 2 in the second over of the innings, Will Young got bowled out on 5 runs, and Williamson on a duck. Wood took Ravindra’s wicket. Brydon Carse was LBW to Latham on a wobbly seam delivery. Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell built a partnership to stabilise the chase. Bracewell got run out on 51 runs. Santner scored 27 runs, and Daryl scored 78, which was not out, to give a victory to the home side.