Sir Ian Botham has tipped Joe Root to become "one of the greats" after another impressive display in England's second-Test victory over West Indies.
Root scored an unbeaten 182 in his side's first innings in Grenada, days after recording half-centuries in the opening encounter in Antigua, and has now notched 2056 runs in his 24 Tests to date at an average of 57.11.
And Botham feels that that the Yorkshireman's ability to put bowlers on the back foot means he is destined for a long career at the top of the world game.
"The amazing thing with Root is that when he goes out to bat, he just makes it look so easy," Botham said of the 24-year-old, who has six Test tons and nine fifties to his name.
"Other people are scratching around and can't get the ball off the square but he just comes out and takes the game to the bowlers. He's going to be one of the greats.
"He played magnificently (in the second Test), with a good tempo and attacks magnificently when he feels the time is right."
Immense
Root's Yorkshire colleague Gary Ballance has also flourished against the West Indies, banishing memories of a poor World Cup with a century in the first Test and a pair of fifties in the second.
Botham reserved high praise for England's No 3 and also skipper Alastair Cook who, along with Ballance, guided his team to a nine-wicket win over Denesh Ramdin's men at St George's.
"He showed that he can step up," Botham said of Ballance, whose Test-match batting average currently stands at 67.93. "His record is immense and he seems to be able to really go up through the gears.
"He's got all the shots, which makes it all the more puzzling that he had such a bad World Cup, and is certainly back with a bang. He's prolific.
"The Test arena is also where Cook belongs; his record is magnificent. It looks like he's getting better and better, and he has many more years ahead of him."
Uphill
Ballance (81no) and Cook (59no) secured England's first overseas Test triumph since 2012 after James Anderson (4-43) and Moeen Ali (3-51) had helped them bowl out West Indies earlier in the day.
The Caribbean outfit dug in to save the first Test and showed their battling qualities in the second Test, too, but Botham says that after slipping to defeat in Grenada, the hosts will find it tough to lift themselves for the third clash in Barbados.
"West Indies have got a real uphill task now as they will have had the wind knocked out of their sails," added Botham.
"You felt all they needed to do was bat two sessions but by lunchtime on the final day, they were eight down and that's the end of the game.
"It will be a massive knock to them and the coaching staff will now have a real battle on their hands to get them fired up for the next Test."
Watch England's third Test against West Indies, from 2.30pm, Friday on Sky Sports 2.