Remembering Joe Root’s impeccable 254 at Old Trafford in 2016
England passed phase one of their Ashes revival, winning the third Test at Headingley in West Yorkshire by three wickets to ensure that the 2023 Series remains open ahead of their next installment against rivals Australia at Old Trafford between 19-23 July after suffering defeats at Edgbaston and Lord’s.
But Brendan McCullum’s side are by no means out of the woods yet as they can afford nothing other than a win in Manchester if they are to go to the Oval for the fifth Test with any hope of regaining the urn for the first time since 2015 — which would see them become the first England team in history to win the Ashes from 3-0 if that were to happen.
It’s no surprise, therefore, that Australia are the heavy outright favourites in the Ashes betting. But England are more than capable of tying the Series at Old Trafford if they can build on the momentum gained in Leeds and should their key figures in the dressing room step up to the mark and be accounted for.
One of those players is Joe Root. Considered by many to be one of the best batsmen in the world, the former England captain racked up 164 runs in the first Test in Birmingham with 118 in the first innings and 46 in the second. But he has flattered to deceive since, scoring just 28 at Lord’s and 40 at Headingley.
With the debate sparked on who should come in at number three for England at Old Trafford after the shoulder injury sustained by vice-captain Ollie Pope and the lacklustre performances by Harry Brook and Moeen Ali in the top order, England could need Root to rise to the occasion in Manchester as the hosts aim to level the scores.
It’s worth noting that Old Trafford has been a happy hunting ground for Root throughout his career. The 32-year-old has scored 790 runs in 16 innings at the northwest ground, averaging over 60 runs each time he’s at the crease, while he also set a career-best score of 254 runs in a Test match against Pakistan back at Old Trafford in 2016.
Trailing 1-0, England won the toss and elected to bat in the first innings of the second Test against Pakistan. But when opening batsman Alex Hales was bowled out by Mohammad Amir for just 10 from 20 balls, Root was forced into the game earlier than expected and what transpired was one of the most memorable innings in recent history.
The next 10 hours at the crease were a mix of Root’s individual brilliance, showcasing his patience, resilience, composure and fantastic technical ability, with the capability to build formidable partnerships with his fellow batters — most notably then England captain Alastair Cook and Chris Woakes, who scored 105 and 58 respectively.
Root frustrated Pakistan’s bowlers as he refused to be drawn into making rash swings of the bat, instead opting for calculated shots that showcased his elite level of skill. In total, he faced 406 balls during the innings, hitting 27 fours. Root was finally dismissed after attempting a slog from a full-length off-cutter from Wahab Riaz, which came off the toe of his bat and was caught by Mohammad Hafeez.
England declared on 589/8 and ultimately went on to win the Test by 330, but the overall four-match Series was drawn 2-2.
