Centuries have come thick and fast in the ongoing five-match Test series between India and England and with ace batter Joe Root scoring his 39th hundred in the longest format, the two teams have now jointly
scored a whopping 21 centuries in the series, level with Australia and the West Indies from 1955.
Root made his 39th Test century and Harry Brook his 10th as England reached 339/6 at stumps on the fourth day of the fifth Test against India in London on Sunday, August 3.
Root (105) and Brook (111) milked 195 runs for the fourth wicket to give impetus to England’s chase of 374.
In this series, India skipper Shubman Gill has scored the most hundreds, at four, with Root scoring three; KL Rahul, Brook, India vice-captain Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal have scored two each, while Ravindra Jadeja, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, Ollie Pope, England skipper Ben Stokes and Washington Sundar have scored one apiece.
During Australia’s tour of the Windies in 1955, the visitors won the series 3-0. Clyde Walcott scored five centuries in that series while Neil Harvey and Keith Miller scored three each.
What happened on Day 4 of the fifth Test between India and England?
Like it has been the case throughout the English summer, a spirited India found a way to fight back through their undeterred spirit after England needed just 57 runs to complete the chase at tea.
Root (105) and Brook (111 off 98) were running away with the contest, but Mohammed Siraj and Co refused to give up post the break.
While Brook was dismissed before tea, Root was caught behind off Prasidh Krishna after the latter had found the stumps of a struggling Jacob Bethell, leaving the home team at 337/6.
Root got out soon after racking up his 39th Test century, 13th versus India and third of the series.
The old ball, which wasn’t doing a thing in the afternoon session, began aiding the pacers and the scoreboard didn’t move. The remaining 37 runs seemed a long way off all of a sudden.
