Joe Root picks his top three England innings of 2015
Wednesday 30 December 2015 15:08, UK
He's had a superlative 2015, scoring more runs in the calendar year than any other England player - 2,131 in 36 matches at an average of 51.97, in fact.
But what does Joe Root consider to be his three favourite innings? Ahead of the first Test against South Africa, on Boxing Day, here are his picks…
Joe's No 3: 182 not out v West Indies, second Test, Grenada - 229 balls, 17 fours, four sixes, strike-rate 79.47
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Hordes of people in and around St George's were queueing up for a hit on this most docile of pitches, not that Root's 333-minute marathon was a breeze. With Ian Bell, Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes missing out around him, Root grafted long and hard to pave the way for England's first away Test win since 2012.
A double century looked certain until Root's 33-run stand with James Anderson for the 10th wicket ended with 'the Burnley Lara' dozily forgetting to run his bat in. Surely even he didn't fancy a bowl on this wicket (he did go on to take 4-43, to be fair)? Root - involved in three run outs in the innings - was far from chuffed as he stormed off, perhaps already aware of Alastair Cook's cheeky plan to give him the new nickname of 'Geoffrey', referencing the less than convincing running between the wickets of a certain Mr Boycott.
Root's reflections: "It was my first hundred abroad and it was nice to get that monkey off my back and contribute to a winning a Test match out there in difficult conditions given it was a flat wicket."
Ian Botham's view: "When other people are scratching around and can't get the ball off the square Root just comes out and takes the game to the bowlers. He's going to be one of the greats."
Super stat: During this knock Root (24 years and 115 days) became the second youngest England batsman behind Alastair Cook (23 years and 79 days) to score 2,000 Test runs.
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Joe's No 2: 106 not out v New Zealand, fourth ODI, Trent Bridge - 97 balls, 13 fours, strike-rate 109.27
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England marked Australia's arrival in Blighty ahead of the Ashes with a notice of intent, chasing down a target of 350 to beat New Zealand by seven wickets in sparkling fashion - registering the joint fourth-highest chase in ODI history along the way.
Eoin Morgan and Joe Root embodied England's new attacking style in a dazzling third-wicket stand of 198 runs in 26.2 overs. The skipper cruised to his eighth ODI ton, passing 50 for the fourth successive time while, Root registered his sixth century - becoming the quickest Englishman to notch up 2,000 career ODI runs, achieving the feat in 58 matches at an average of 41.67. The victory levelled one of the greatest ODI series ever at 2-2, setting up a Durham decider where Jonny Bairstow delivered. Bring on the Ashes!
Root's reflections: "To be part of the first England team to chase down 350 in one-day cricket was incredible. I also had the pleasure of watching Eoin bat extremely well at the other end."
Ian Botham's view: "The cricket was electrifying. It was incredible power-hitting from the captain. But Root's got timing, confidence and hits the ball from the moment he gets out there."
Super stat: Root's 198-run stand with Morgan was the highest for the third wicket in ODIs at Trent Bridge and the best for any England wicket against New Zealand, beating the 193 put on by Bill Athey and Graham Gooch at Old Trafford in 1986.
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Joe's No 1: 130 v Australia, fourth Test, Trent Bridge - 176 balls, 19 fours, one six, strike-rate 73.86
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What a difference a series makes. Root, dropped for the final Test of the 2013/14 fiasco in Australia, returned to face the old foe in style - sealing his rise to top spot in the ICC World Test Rankings with his eighth and most recent Test ton.
The day one headlines belonged rightly to Stuart Broad, whose devastating spell of 8-15 obliterated Australia's Ashes comeback hopes, but at 34-2 in reply England still needed to convert a phenomenal morning into a series-winning day. Root provided the ballast, putting on 173 for the fourth wicket with Jonny Bairstow to steer England to 274-4 before stumps. Stu-pendous Broad + relentless Root = Ashes regained.
Root's reflections: "To watch Broady produce such a magical spell and then take the game away from them with a couple of good partnerships - and be not out overnight - was really pleasing."
Shane Warne's view: "Root's got this energy about him - you get drawn to him and what he's doing. He's a pleasure to watch and he's going to get better and better."
Super stat: The only previous England batsman to outscore Australia having batted second at the end of day one was Bobby Abel at Lord's in 1896.
Coverage of the first Test between South Africa and England in Durban gets underway at 7.30am on Boxing Day morning on Sky Sports 2, or watch without a contract on NOW TV.
