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Joe Root reveals how previous Pakistan tour helped him bat in Multan's heat

Star england batter joe root has revealed how the previous experience of batting in pakistan came in handy during his record-breaking partnership with harry brook in the first test in multan..

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• Joe Root registered his highest Test score on Day 4
• Root and Harry Brook added 454 runs for fourth wicket
• England left Pakistan reeling at 152/6 at stumps

Star England batter Joe Root revealed how the previous Pakistan tour in 2022 helped him and Harry Brook to bat in scorching heat on Day 4 of the first Test at Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan. Notably, Root and Brook brought England into ascendancy in the game as they got involved in a record-breaking 454-run stand for England for the fourth wicket.

The duo reached their respective highest scores in Tests, as Root (262) brought up his sixth Test double-hundred , while Brook (317) became the sixth England batter to score a triple-hundred. At the end of the day’s play, the England star praised Brook for his brisk scoring rate and also mentioned how the previous tour helped them to acclimatize themselves with the scorching heat out in the middle.

Pakistan staring at another defeat at home

Courtesy of Root and Brook’s record-breaking stand, England managed to post the fourth highest score in the history of Test cricket (823/7) and took a massive lead of 257 runs. England bowlers were up to the task in the second innings as they l eft Pakistan staring down the barrel at stumps on Day as they’re 152/6 trailing by 115 runs in the second innings.

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England vs Pakistan: Masterful Joe Root makes history as visitors dominate day three in Multan

Joe Root is now England's leading Test run-scorer eclipsing Sir Alastair Cook's mark of 12,472 on day three of first Test against Pakistan; watch day four live on Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event from 5.50am on Tuesday (first ball 6am)

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Wednesday 9 October 2024 19:49, UK

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Joe Root hit a brilliant unbeaten century to become England's leading Test run-scorer on day three of the first Test in Multan.

Root (176no) brought up his milestone with a four off Pakistan's quick Aamer Jamal (1-78), surpassing Sir Alastair Cook's record of 12,472 runs.

The 33-year-old also notched his 35th Test century to slash Pakistan's lead from an imposing 460 at the start of play to a far less demanding 64 at stumps.

Root shared a masterful unbroken partnership worth 243-runs with fellow Yorkshireman Harry Brook (141no), who brought up his sixth Test century and fourth against Pakistan, to help England close on 492-3.

It was England's highest fourth-wicket partnership against Pakistan. The previous was between Paul Collingwood and Cook at Lord's in 2006.

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Score summary - Pakistan vs England, first Test

Pakistan 556 all out in 149 overs: Shan Masood (151), Salman Agha (104no), Abdullah Shafique (102); Jack Leach (3-160), Brydon Carse (2-74) Gus Atkinson (2-99)

England 492-3 in 101 overs: Joe Root (176no), Harry Brook (141no); Aamer Jamal (1-78)

Live Test Cricket

"I'm tired, more than anything. It's been a long day," Root said at England's team hotel having been unable to speak to the media at the close due to exhaustion and dehydration.

"Obviously, proud but still feel there's plenty more left to do and many more runs to get. I'm sure I'll look back at it at some point when I'm finished and be very proud of it."

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The Multan wicket forced Pakistan to toil hard for little reward with Zak Crawley (78) departing early in the morning session off Shaheen Shah Afridi (1-88), and Ben Duckett (84), who came in at No 4 after dislocating his thumb at the end of day two, the only other England batter to depart.

Remarkably, the ball hit Brook's stumps after ricocheting off his chest without dislodging the bails in the 76th over granting him an extra life, and despite cramping up in the hot and humid conditions, the 25-year-old still managed to tally 12 boundaries and one six during his 173-ball outing.

Naseem Shah (1-87) hit Root on his pads late in the evening session but on-field umpire Kumar Dharmasena ruled it was not out and ball-tracking showed it was clipping the bails on review, adding to Pakistan's agonising day in the field with the England record-breaker hobbling for runs in the final moments of day three.

Root and Brook help England dominate

Crawley began day three positively carving Afridi’s third ball through the covers for four. However, he was unable to build extensively on his overnight score of 64 after he flicked the Pakistan quick to Jamal at midwicket.

Duckett and Root shared a brilliant 136-run partnership for England’s third wicket as the hosts toiled hard on a desperately flat wicket that offered little promise and no lateral movement.

The England pair shared 15 boundaries, 11 of which came from Duckett’s bat, as they brought up England’s 200 inside 40 overs.

Pakistan’s pace bowler Jamal convinced his skipper to use two reviews in the space of three overs thinking he had Duckett caught behind and Root trapped lbw, both of which were wrong, as the England duo guided their side to lunch safely.

After the break, Jamal successfully trapped Duckett leg-before coming around the wicket for a much-needed breakthrough which left England 249-3.

Root batted with epic fluency, though - a huge contrast to his previous tour to Pakistan in 2022 when he made scores of 23, 73, 8, 21 and 0 - as he surpassed Cook’s record with an immaculate classic cover drive for four.

For the most part, the right-hander batted in orthodox fashion hitting a total of 12 boundaries but was pinned in front by Jamal after missing a left-handed sweep, and to add to Pakistan’s increasing frustration, the ball struck his pad outside the line.

Brook, who collected three centuries two years ago against Pakistan on his debut tour, joined Root at the crease and looked in as good touch as he did in 2022.

He arrived at the crease with England trailing by 303 runs and batted with ingenuity to guide the tourists to 492-3.

Brook and Root both cramped up on multiple occasions in the evening session, calling on drinks and the physiotherapist every few overs and hobbling between the wicket in the final moments of the game, but crucially remained unbeaten at the end of play.

Under the Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes era, England have conceded 500 twice and won both times. The first was against New Zealand at Trent Bridge in 2022 and the second was during their previous trip to Pakistan two years ago at Rawalpindi.

In recent times, Pakistan have faltered during the second innings in Test cricket.

During Bangladesh’s historic Test win over Shan Masood's side in September, they scored 274 in their first innings before dipping to just 172 in the second, a point of concern for the hosts, but one that England will look to capitalise on as they close in on a lead.

Hussain: Incredible day for England

Sky Sports' Nasser Hussain praised England for their incredible batting performance on day three as the tourists eye up a potential victory in the first Test.

"It's incredible the day England have had. They've put themselves in a position where they can put the opposition under pressure in the last two days," Hussain said.

"I think they'll just carry on batting. Those bowlers up there, I've played with some bowlers that would have absolutely loved today. They'll just put their feet up, the likes of [Gus] Atkinson, [Brydon] Carse, [Chris] Woakes - a day off, completely.

"We've had Stuart Broad in our commentary box, he used to love days like this. Just a day off to rest the body. Maybe two more sessions off, where they may have to do a little bit of batting themselves, and then they go again.

"Then they're in a position where they can't lose the game. So all eyes will be on that third innings, but it could not have gone any better for England today."

🏏 "Incredible player. Great bloke." ❤️ Hear @BenStokes38 on @Root66 's incredible achievement... Click below for full interview 👇 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 9, 2024

'Amazing and incredible' - Trescothick pays tribute to Root

"It's amazing. To think we're lucky enough to sit and watch history being made as the man goes on to become England's leading run-scorer - incredible," said England men's Test batting coach Marcus Trescothick.

"The way he goes about it, the work he puts in and continues to strive for greatness all the time. He's been superb and will continue to be superb for a number of years yet."

Duckett: I will play through the pain

"I am alright, to be honest. I would have certainly taken that last night when it happened," said Ben Duckett on Sky Sports Cricket.

"I did that exact same thumb a couple of years ago and it looked identical. When that happens and you have fielded for 150 overs and you are expected to go bat, it isn't ideal.

"I knew it was dislocated and when it went back in it felt clear there was no break.

"When I went in the net this morning, the first thing I did was sweep and reverse sweep just to see if I could and it was alright."

Pakistan vs England schedule - live on Sky Sports

First Test: Multan - October 7-11

Second Test: Multan - October 15-19

Third Test: Rawalpindi - October 24-28

Every match from the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup is also live on Sky Sports from October 3-20 with Australia aiming for a third straight title and seventh overall, and England seeking to triumph for the first time since the inaugural edition in 2009.

Watch day four of the first Test between Pakistan and England in Multan, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event from 5.50am on Thursday, ahead of play starting from 6am. Stream with NOW

Fabio Wardley's huge rematch with Frazer Clarke is on the epic Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol bill on Saturday October 12 live on Sky Sports Box Office. Book Wardley v Clarke 2 and Beterbiev v Bivol now!

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Root reveals how he turned his Test career around during Covid break

Root is now the highest run-getter for England in history, and only four batters have now scored more runs than him in Tests

The Joe Root of 2012-2020 was already a bonafide Test legend, but, since 2021, the right-hander has upped his game to such an outrageous level that he’s straight up become one of the greatest Test batters of all time, and arguably England’s best Test batter ever. 

Till the end of 2020, Root had played 97 Tests and had averaged 47.99, smashing 17 hundreds. Since 2021, though, the 33-year-old has astonishingly scored more hundreds (18) in 47 fewer Tests, all the while averaging 58.32. 

He’s now sixth in the list of Test hundreds (all time). He is the highest run-getter for England in history and only four batters have now scored more runs than him in Tests. He’s been smashing record after record and there seems to be no end to this juggernaut. 

So, how did Root go from being a ‘great’ batter to one of the greatest of all time in such a short span of time?

The 33-year-old credited the transformation to the changes he made during the pandemic - both mental and technical.

"In Covid, I spent that period off really looking at my game, the areas where I felt there were little holes and weaknesses in it, and just really trying to have a really good understanding of my strengths and weaknesses," Root told Sky Sports Cricket.

"And then work with the strengths and try to tighten up the areas within my game that needed to just probably raise the level.

"Not all of that is technical, some of it was mental and maybe looking at the game slightly differently.

"Instead of always being about where's my head, where's my hands and my feet, are they lined up right? Am I playing the angles right, can I find a way of making him bowl in a different area?

"I suppose just that switch of mentality to, it doesn't really matter sometimes if you're in the wrong position as long as it's effective and you're finding ways of keeping the good ones out and applying pressure when the bowlers miss."

In the last four years, Root has played some epics but none arguably better than  his marathon effort in Multan two days ago, where he posted his highest Test score (262).

There were times in the innings where the right-hander could barely stand - thanks to the heat - but he dug in, fought through and compiled a true epic.

Root said in the same interview that he wanted to ‘make it count’ since he knows things won’t always be hunky-dory.  

"You just know what it's like, this game. There are periods where you're really struggling and it's so hard.

"Every little mistake, the nick carries, or there's a brilliant catch, there's that 50-50 call on an lbw, and all of a sudden it feels like five innings, and you've not scored a run, and you're not in good nick.

"And you get days like this, where I was dropped at mid-wicket in the first half an hour, and you've got to really make the most of it to get us in a position to win the game.

"It's that mentality, of I suppose Goochie (Graham Gooch), that you've never got enough. It's something he always used to say to us when he was the batting coach.

"And when you've got that position of strength, in these conditions you know things can happen quickly late on in the game. But you've got to really work hard to earn the right to do that and have that chance of winning."

The mad run Root has gone on has now given him a realistic chance to go past Sachin Tendulkar and become the highest run-getter in Test history.

But is the milestone on the back of the 33-year-old’s mind?

"I've no idea. It's some way off yet,” Root said, speaking of going past Sachin’s run tally. 

As it stands, Root is 3,257 runs shy of Sachin’s tally. 

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PAK vs ENG: Fans in awe as Joe Root lights up Multan with stellar double century on Day 4 of 1st test

England's joe root smashed a monumental double-century on day 4 of the first test against pakistan in multan., this marked his sixth double-ton in test cricket..

Table of Contents

Joe Root chasing records: Sixth double-century puts him among England’s elite

Equalling rahul dravid’s record: root’s consistency in test cricket, root’s century lays foundation for england’s response to pakistan.

• Here’s how fans reacted

Root surpasses Alastair Cook to become England’s leading run-scorer in Tests

Root’s fifth century in 2024: leading england’s batting renaissance, england’s batting resurgence led by root and harry brook.

Joe Root added another chapter to his illustrious Test career with a monumental double-century on Day 4 of the first Test against Pakistan in Multan. This marked his sixth double-ton in Test cricket, breaking his tie with Alastair Cook and placing him second only to Wally Hammond among English players. Root’s innings not only guided England through a challenging first innings but also cemented his place as one of the greatest Test batters of all time. His masterclass against a potent Pakistan attack further demonstrated his ability to excel in all conditions.

Root’s knock in Multan not only helped England fight back against Pakistan but also put him within touching distance of another legendary English record. His sixth double-century places him just one shy of Hammond’s tally of seven. Furthermore, Root’s 35th Test century saw him surpass some of the game’s biggest names, including Younis Khan, Sunil Gavaskar, Brian Lara and Mahela Jayawardene, who each scored 34 tons. Root’s hunger for runs shows no signs of diminishing as he continues to climb the ranks of cricketing greats.

Root’s double-century also allowed him to equal another prestigious record. He joined Rahul Dravid with 99 scores of 50 or more in Test matches, placing him joint third on the all-time list. Only Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis  and Ricky Ponting have accomplished this more times than Root and Dravid. This consistency over the years has been the hallmark of Root’s career, with his ability to deliver under pressure earning him a reputation as one of the most reliable Test batters in the modern era.

Also READ: Alastair Cook names the next record Joe Root will break after England milestone

Arriving at the crease on Day 2, Root exhibited patience and precision as he partnered with Zak Crawley to take England past 100 on Day 3. Crawley’s dismissal for 78 did little to halt Root’s momentum. Root continued to accumulate runs and brought up his century after lunch, off 167 balls. He then formed a crucial 136-run partnership with Ben Duckett (84), followed by an imposing double-century stand with Harry Brook . Root’s ability to rotate strike and manage Pakistan’s spinners kept the pressure on the hosts, setting the stage for a strong English response.

Here’s how fans reacted:

Most Double Hundreds by Fab Four: Virat Kohli – 7 Kane Williamson – 6 Joe Root – 6* Steven Smith – 4 Root might touch Virat in this Pakistan tour itself. — Aditya Saha (@Adityakrsaha) October 10, 2024

Another double hundred for Joe Root. So now he has a double hundred in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, New Zealand and England. Some run scoring habit this.. Also now has 20017, international runs to his name, the 12th highest run getter in international cricket. With respect to red… — Spandan Roy (@talksports45) October 10, 2024

A sixth double hundred for the great @root66 for @englandcricket – a true phenomenon pic.twitter.com/EDZb9xMrgq — Paul Rumens (@plsoj85) October 10, 2024

Yet another landmark passed & the first English man to do so 🙌 What a servant @root66 has been to his country 👏 #PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/VGjlQKYtSm — PCA (@PCA) October 10, 2024

Jitni backwas bowling hai or jaisi pitch hai it looks triple century (300) loading for @root66 ..Yes u heard it 1st here. Go get 300 #Rooty @_FaridKhan @KP24 @MichaelVaughan #Pakistan pitch #PAKvsENG pic.twitter.com/TjIqJiNF9D — Satvinder Meel (@s4sattu) October 10, 2024

If @ECB_cricket doesn't declare there is a very high chance that @root66 can break the record of the highest individual score. I have faith in his batting and of course, in @TheRealPCB bowlers as well. This wicket is dead. Not good for the future of test cricket. #PAKvENG — Harish (@Harishjha97) October 10, 2024

Good to see @elitebandwagon celebrating @root66 's latest double hundred in Multan 💯💯👏👏👏 — Cricketnut 🏏 (@Cricketnut4) October 10, 2024

Miss those days when you wake up to a good morning message. Nowadays all you wake up to is "Joe Root scored a 50, 100 or 200". pic.twitter.com/AU7DTg4TvN — Heisenberg ☢ (@internetumpire) October 10, 2024

Joe Root is having a dream run in test cricket. He's in his own league. pic.twitter.com/Ay8YkGm8I3 — R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) October 10, 2024

Root's record-breaking streak continues. He now reaches his sixth double century in Tests, levelling with Tendulkar, Miandad, Ponting, Williamson, Atapattu, Sehwag and Younis Khan. It's an Asian treble for him – 218 in Chennai, 228 in Galle, and 200* in Multan. pic.twitter.com/SieZOMTmde — Omkar Mankame (@Oam_16) October 10, 2024

6️⃣th Double Hundred for Joe Root 👊🏏 #cricket #PAKvENG #JoeRoot #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/vPXWWS7luw — CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) October 10, 2024

He did it in very 1st inning, he scored fukin 200 😭❤️ The GOAT of England Cricket, He never dissapoints me. Keep going @root66 ❤️ https://t.co/iPXbiqzmcR pic.twitter.com/8lvLDX0PpY — Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) October 10, 2024

What an incredible classic 200 from @root66 ! It showcased his skill and determination. However, it's a shame about that disappointing drop by @babarazam258 such moments can really shift the momentum in a game. Let's hope he bounces back strong! — Aqua dé Vida (@Waq_Ar) October 10, 2024

Brilliant! Well done @root66 Root! 😎 Great reply from England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏏 — Tim Cresswell 💙💉🇬🇧🇪🇺🇰🇪❄️🇺🇦 (@trcresswell) October 10, 2024

In the process of building his double-century, Root achieved a significant milestone by surpassing Alastair Cook ’s record to become England’s all-time leading Test run-scorer. Root now sits atop the list with over 12,472 runs, joining the likes of Tendulkar, Ponting and Dravid among the world’s most prolific Test batters. This achievement speaks to Root’s longevity and adaptability, having excelled in varying conditions across the globe, making him one of the most respected figures in modern cricket.

Root’s century in Multan was his fifth in 2024, making him the joint leader with Kamindu Mendis for the most Test hundreds this year. Despite having played three Tests in Pakistan previously, this was Root’s first century in the country, highlighting his adaptability in challenging subcontinent conditions. His composed reaction after reaching the milestone, kissing the badge on his helmet and acknowledging the dressing room, reflected his focus on the task at hand rather than personal accolades.

England resumed Day 4 on 492/3, with Root unbeaten on 176 and Harry Brook on 141, trailing Pakistan’s first-innings total of 556. Root and Brook remained unfazed by Pakistan’s attack, building on their already impressive partnership. Brook completed his century, his fourth against Pakistan, while Root went on to complete his double-century. Despite a dropped catch by Babar Azam and the absence of leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed due to illness, Pakistan’s bowling lacked the cutting edge needed to disrupt England’s momentum, allowing Root to anchor the innings.

Also READ:  PAK vs ENG: Fans roar as Joe Root breaks Alastair Cook’s all-time record for England on Day 3 of first Test

TAGS: 1s Test England Harry Brook Joe Root PAK vs ENG Pakistan Pakistan tour of England 2024 Pakistan vs England PAKvENG Test Test series

CATEGORY: England Featured Joe Root Test Twitter Reactions

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Selfless Joe Root is England’s greatest and ‘incredible attribute’ ensures there’s more to come

Root breaks alastair cook’s record and becomes england’s highest-ever test run-scorer, subscribe to independent premium to bookmark this article.

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Joe Root breaking Sir Alastair Cook ’s record for most Test runs for England had a touch of inevitability about it.

Root sent a straight drive past Aamer Jamal in the first Test of the three-match tour of Pakistan in Multan to eclipse Cook’s total of 12,472 runs and move into fifth on the all-time list.

Despite jubilation back in England, the milestone itself was not celebrated in Multan , the local fans did not notice. There was an understated touch of the gloves with Ben Duckett, and a pat on the shoulder before the innings resumed. He went on to bring up his century as England racked up the runs, after Pakistan had scored 556 in the first innings.

Throughout his career, Root has scored his runs in almost exactly the same way, and aside from the odd scoop shot, has remained remarkably consistent with textbook technique.

Root loves batting, that is the crux and formation of his entire career. When training sessions the day before a match are optional, the Yorkshireman will be out there in the nets having a long bat.

There are few players in modern cricket who can claim to have anywhere near the same consistency that the 33-year-old has demonstrated throughout his career.

From 2015 to 2024, only in one year has Root’s average dipped below 40, and before the Multan Test it stood at an impressive 51.10.

Making his debut for England in Nagpur in 2012, Root showed patience and determination far beyond his years, scoring 73 from 229 balls.

Root is now fifth on the list of all-time Test run-scorers, with Sachin Tendulkar at the top having amassed 15,921 runs during his career, and Ricky Ponting second with 13,378 runs. The ones below Tendulkar are within touching distance, but he might need another three or four years to come close to matching the Indian great.

He has pushed his body to the limit for England. During the tour of Pakistan in 2022, Root scored 73 runs from 68 balls at Rawalpindi and looked in fine touch, only for teammate James Anderson to later reveal he had been “off the field every half an hour puking up”.

In record-breaking heat in Sydney, Root was admitted to hospital with severe dehydration but reappeared in the morning session to take his total from 42 to 58, putting his health on the line for the sake of England and to save a Test match.

Ben Stokes, who is absent from the first Test with injury, said of his teammate in a video released on X by the England and Wales Cricket Board: “The selflessness that he has is an incredible attribute for him. He always puts the team first, and the fact that he’s got so many runs is just a bonus for us.

“He’s an incredible player. It’s going to take a long, long time for someone to come in and break that record. Just a great bloke. And an unbelievable feat to score that many runs.

“But the non-selfishness that he possesses is one thing I think sets him above or sets him apart from anybody else who is going to play for England for a long time.”

During the darkest days of his captaincy, Root still took it upon himself to score the bulk of runs for his side. Hitting 109 and 153 during a tour of the West Indies that would be the final tour of his captaincy.

Since giving up the role, Root has flourished under Stokes, thriving after being relieved of that added pressure to lead.

In August, Root overtook another one of Cook’s achievements, levelling and then overtaking his record of 33 Test centuries with back-to-back hundreds against Sri Lanka at Lord’s. Cook said then on the BBC’s Test Match Special : “He is quite simply England’s greatest, and it’s absolutely right that he should have this record, on his own. He’s just the final one to tick off...”

Root is arguably England’s greatest-ever batter, there are few who can equal his ability to play across the globe in different conditions, and while Cook called time on his career at the same age as his former teammate’s current age, the Yorkshireman shows no signs of coming towards the end.

There are still more milestones and records to break, and crucially he has still yet to score a century in Australia, but as long as Root continues to maintain the same hunger and desire for batting and Test cricket, there is no reason he cannot climb further up the list of all-time run-scorers.

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Joe Root reaches the batting heights for which his career was destined

He's gone past Cook, notched up another Test ton, and now motors along to toppling more greats on the run-scorers' chart (2:04)

• Matt Roller Close Matt Roller is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets at @mroller98 Follow on X

Prior to this Test, Joe Root had described the prospect of becoming England's all-time leading run-scorer as "irrelevant", and his understated response to the landmark on Wednesday morning proved that he meant it. He gently waved his bat to acknowledge the standing ovation on the dressing-room balcony after driving Aamer Jamal down the ground to reach 71, but then was straight back into his work.

Root's point had been that the record would simply be the by-product of his wider ambitions: "I'd like to get more than that in this game," he explained. He was true to his word, even if he looked sapped by the South Punjab sun by the time he reverse-swept Abrar Ahmed for the single that brought him his 35th Test century.

In time, Root will reflect with immense pride on his elevation into the pantheon of the greatest batters England - or anyone else, for that matter - has produced. But more immediately, his focus was on putting England in a position to win this first Test: upon reaching three figures, he kissed the badge on his helmet before raising his bat.

He then looked to the skies, acknowledging the influence that the late Graham Thorpe had on his career. Thorpe, who died in August at the age of 55, had been the driving force behind Root's first Test call-up in 2012, and worked closely with him for the first decade of his career, helping a batter brought up on seaming pitches in Yorkshire become England's best-ever player of spin.

Root went on and on, fighting cramp to reach the close on 176. He played the supporting role in partnerships worth 109, 136 and an unbeaten 243 with Zak Crawley , Ben Duckett and Harry Brook respectively, but was the constant through England's mammoth innings. After 250 overs spread across three days' play, Root has only spent eight balls off the field.

"[I feel] tired, more than anything. It's been a long day," Root said. "I'm obviously proud, but still feel as though there's plenty more left to do and many more runs to get. I'm sure I'll look back on it at some point when I'm finished and be very proud of it."

This was his first hundred in Pakistan, after a quiet tour two years ago. It leaves only one obvious gap in his stellar Test CV: Root is yet either to score a century or win a Test in Australia. He will be desperate to address both of those shortcomings as England look to win back the Ashes in just over a year's time.

Root has faced more threatening spinners in much trickier conditions than Abrar on this Multan motorway. But he played him with total ease throughout: he did not score a boundary off him until he swung a full toss through midwicket to reach 166. Instead, he spent the day milking him mercilessly with flicks off his pads and steers through cover.

This was an innings which will not quite translate to a highlights package, a slow-burning epic rather than something bitesize. Root only hit a dozen boundaries in 277 balls but ran Pakistan's fielders ragged on a slow outfield, with seven threes, 16 twos and an incredible 75 singles. He survived two unsuccessful reviews for lbw, but looked in control throughout.

For Jason Gillespie , Pakistan's coach, it was nothing new after spending five years at Yorkshire when Root was early in his international career. "I remember Joe asking coaches, 'Tell me what I need to hear, not what you think I want to hear.' It was a coaching lesson for myself," Gillespie recalled. "He always strives to get better: that was my experience with him."

Longevity demands resilience - not only mental, but physical too. Remarkably, Root has never missed a Test through injury: he has played in 147 of England's 149 since his debut, with the two exceptions due to being dropped (Sydney 2014) and the birth of his second child (Southampton 2020).

He was clearly struggling physically in the heat of the day, dragging himself up the dressing-room steps at tea. But after spending the interval rehydrating - and wearing an 'ice sleeve' around his neck - Root ran back out to the middle in trademark style. He was drained by the close, his foot movement limited through sheer exhaustion, but maintained his focus.

"To bat through the whole day in that heat shows, mentally, how fit he is - and also physically," Duckett said. "I was only out there for a session or a bit under in it and it was tough working that heat. I'm sure he'll sleep well. Between sessions, we've got a great support staff and fluids and getting food on board is so important on a day like this - but to be honest, I think he probably enjoyed more just sitting in an air-conned room."

It was only ever a question of when Root would overtake Alastair Cook , not if. After breaking Cook's centuries record at a sold-out Lord's last month , this sparse crowd in arid Multan was a much more low-key backdrop - but reaching the upper echelons of the format demands the ability to adapt both temperament and technique to such diverse surroundings.

Since relinquishing the captaincy two-and-a-half years ago, Root has ascended to a higher plane as a batter. It is not as though leadership had a deleterious effect on his batting - he averaged 46.44 as captain - but since then, he has scored 10 hundreds in 30 Tests, averaging 61.11.

If he scores seven more runs on Thursday, Root will become the first Englishman to achieve another notable landmark: 20,000 international runs across formats. While the majority of those have come in Tests, this milestone would be a reminder of his compelling ODI record - and his vital role in England's only 50-over World Cup win.

And yet, like James Anderson and Stuart Broad before him, Root has benefitted from a streamlined schedule. He has only played 28 ODIs in the last five years and - much to his frustration - not a single T20I, but his singular focus on Test cricket has given him enough periods of rest to stay fresh and hungry.

He is not done yet. Root turns 34 in December and has no plans to retire: if his body continues to hold up, he could happily play through to the 2027 Ashes and beyond. At his current rate, Root could surpass Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting's aggregates in the next year, while Cook believes he is an even-money bet to eventually surpass Sachin Tendulkar.

"Your best one is always your next one," Root said, asked where his latest hundred ranked among the previous 34. "You've got to keep staying hungry to find ways of keep contributing and getting better." It is that hunger that has defined his career, ever since he first picked up a bat.

Tendulkar's aggregate of 15,921 is still 3,343 runs away, but England play so often that Root will have regular opportunities to close the gap, not least if Pakistan continue to roll out pitches like this one. As for whether he is already England's greatest? A successful tour to Australia next winter would put that beyond any doubt.

England need 130 runs in 101 balls.

Day 1 - NSW lead by 30 runs.

Western Australia

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Day 2 - Bengal lead by 231 runs.

Baroda won by an innings and 261 runs

Day 2 - Maharashtra lead by 40 runs.

Day 2 - Puducherry trail by 292 runs.

Day 2 - Andhra trail by 133 runs.

Day 2 - Haryana chose to field.

Day 2 - Chhattisgarh trail by 75 runs.

Day 2 - Chandigarh trail by 453 runs.

Day 2 - Delhi chose to field.

Day 2 - Tripura lead by 160 runs.

Day 2 - Mumbai lead by 13 runs.

Day 2 - Vidarbha trail by 141 runs.

Day 2 - Uttarakhand trail by 551 runs.

Day 2 - UP trail by 108 runs.

Day 2 - Punjab lead by 127 runs.

Day 2 - Tamil Nadu lead by 95 runs.

Goa won by an innings and 551 runs

Day 2 - Sikkim trail by 167 runs.

Day 2 - Mizoram trail by 731 runs.

Islamabad won by an innings and 2 runs

Larkana lead by 133 runs.

Abbottabad lead by 72 runs.

AJK Region trail by 125 runs.

Rawalpindi lead by 73 runs.

KR Blues won by an innings and 56 runs

Sialkot R chose to field.

FATA trail by 35 runs.

Peshawar trail by 222 runs.

Australia won by 29 runs

South Africa

England vs Pakistan , 2nd Investec Test at Manchester , , Jul 22 2016 - Full Scorecard

England won by 330 runs

• England 1st innings
• Drinks: England - 47/1 in 13.0 overs (AN Cook 29, JE Root 8)
• Drinks: England - 48/1 in 14.0 overs (AN Cook 30, JE Root 8)
• England: 50 runs in 15.2 overs (92 balls), Extras 0
• 2nd Wicket: 50 runs in 98 balls (AN Cook 23, JE Root 23, Ex 4)
• Lunch: England - 95/1 in 27.0 overs (AN Cook 40, JE Root 41)
• England: 100 runs in 29.2 overs (177 balls), Extras 5
• JE Root: 50 off 86 balls (9 x 4)
• AN Cook: 50 off 90 balls (8 x 4)
• 2nd Wicket: 100 runs in 189 balls (AN Cook 44, JE Root 53, Ex 6)
• Drinks: England - 141/1 in 42.0 overs (AN Cook 68, JE Root 56)
• England: 150 runs in 44.2 overs (268 balls), Extras 7
• 2nd Wicket: 150 runs in 254 balls (AN Cook 78, JE Root 65, Ex 7)
• AN Cook: 100 off 157 balls (14 x 4)
• England: 200 runs in 54.2 overs (328 balls), Extras 7
• Tea: England - 210/2 in 55.4 overs (JE Root 87)
• JE Root: 100 off 167 balls (14 x 4)
• England: 250 runs in 67.5 overs (409 balls), Extras 8
• 4th Wicket: 50 runs in 100 balls (JE Root 34, GS Ballance 11, Ex 5)
• Reviews used before 80th over: England 2 (0 successful, 0 unsuccessful); Pakistan 2 (0 successful, 0 unsuccessful)
• Second new ball taken 80.1 overs
• England: 300 runs in 81.2 overs (495 balls), Extras 13
• End Of Day: England - 314/4 in 89.0 overs (JE Root 141, CR Woakes 2)
• England: 350 runs in 99.3 overs (604 balls), Extras 16
• JE Root: 150 off 269 balls (18 x 4)
• 5th Wicket: 50 runs in 97 balls (JE Root 12, CR Woakes 37, Ex 2)
• Drinks: England - 364/4 in 103.0 overs (JE Root 153, CR Woakes 38)
• CR Woakes: 50 off 88 balls (8 x 4, 1 x 6)
• England: 400 runs in 108.6 overs (663 balls), Extras 22
• 5th Wicket: 100 runs in 167 balls (JE Root 37, CR Woakes 56, Ex 7)
• Lunch: England - 427/5 in 117.0 overs (JE Root 185, BA Stokes 6)
• England: 450 runs in 125.4 overs (763 balls), Extras 22
• 6th Wicket: 50 runs in 90 balls (JE Root 17, BA Stokes 33, Ex 0)
• JE Root: 200 off 355 balls (22 x 4)
• Over 130.1: Review by Pakistan (Bowling), Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batsman - BA Stokes (Upheld)
• Drinks: England - 482/6 in 132.0 overs (JE Root 203, JM Bairstow 9)
• England: 500 runs in 135.2 overs (821 balls), Extras 25
• 7th Wicket: 50 runs in 66 balls (JE Root 20, JM Bairstow 28, Ex 4)
• Tea: England - 533/6 in 146.0 overs (JE Root 226, JM Bairstow 32)
• England: 550 runs in 147.4 overs (896 balls), Extras 27
• JE Root: 250 off 404 balls (26 x 4)
• 7th Wicket: 100 runs in 119 balls (JE Root 49, JM Bairstow 47, Ex 5)
• JM Bairstow: 50 off 74 balls (6 x 4)
• Innings Break: England - 589/8 in 152.2 overs (MM Ali 2)
• Pakistan 1st innings
• Drinks: Pakistan - 27/1 in 13.0 overs (Shan Masood 7)
• Pakistan: 50 runs in 21.4 overs (131 balls), Extras 2
• End Of Day: Pakistan - 57/4 in 24.0 overs (Shan Masood 30, Misbah-ul-Haq 1)
• Rain: Pakistan - 71/5 in 31.0 overs (Misbah-ul-Haq 5, Asad Shafiq 0)
• Pakistan: 100 runs in 39.5 overs (241 balls), Extras 3
• Lunch: Pakistan - 119/8 in 44.5 overs (Misbah-ul-Haq 22)
• Pakistan: 150 runs in 52.3 overs (317 balls), Extras 4
• 9th Wicket: 50 runs in 74 balls (Misbah-ul-Haq 27, Wahab Riaz 22, Ex 1)
• Misbah-ul-Haq: 50 off 108 balls (4 x 4)
• Innings Break: Pakistan - 198/10 in 63.4 overs (Mohammad Amir 9)
• England 2nd innings
• Rain: England - 11/0 in 2.4 overs (AN Cook 9, AD Hales 2)
• Tea: England - 11/0 in 2.4 overs (AN Cook 9, AD Hales 2)
• Rain: England - 11/0 in 3.2 overs (AN Cook 9, AD Hales 2)
• England: 50 runs in 11.3 overs (69 balls), Extras 2
• 1st Wicket: 50 runs in 69 balls (AN Cook 29, AD Hales 22, Ex 2)
• Rain: England - 56/0 in 12.2 overs (AN Cook 31, AD Hales 23)
• End Of Day: England - 98/1 in 21.0 overs (AN Cook 49, JE Root 23)
• England: 100 runs in 21.4 overs (130 balls), Extras 2
• AN Cook: 50 off 55 balls (7 x 4)
• 2nd Wicket: 50 runs in 49 balls (AN Cook 20, JE Root 31, Ex 0)
• JE Root: 50 off 38 balls (7 x 4)
• England: 150 runs in 27.4 overs (166 balls), Extras 2
• 2nd Wicket: 100 runs in 83 balls (AN Cook 30, JE Root 70, Ex 0)
• Innings Break: England - 173/1 in 30.0 overs (AN Cook 76, JE Root 71)
• Pakistan 2nd innings
• Lunch: Pakistan - 47/2 in 16.0 overs (Mohammad Hafeez 24, Younis Khan 12)
• Pakistan: 50 runs in 16.4 overs (100 balls), Extras 2
• 3rd Wicket: 50 runs in 69 balls (Mohammad Hafeez 21, Younis Khan 23, Ex 6)
• Pakistan: 100 runs in 29.6 overs (181 balls), Extras 6
• Drinks: Pakistan - 102/4 in 31.3 overs (Misbah-ul-Haq 17)
• Pakistan: 150 runs in 46.4 overs (281 balls), Extras 7
• Tea: Pakistan - 161/5 in 49.0 overs (Asad Shafiq 35, Sarfraz Ahmed 5)
• Over 49.3: Review by Pakistan (Batting), Umpire - HDPK Dharmasena, Batsman - Sarfraz Ahmed (Struck down)
• Over 50.2: Review by England (Bowling), Umpire - RJ Tucker, Batsman - Asad Shafiq (Upheld)
• Pakistan: 200 runs in 61.5 overs (372 balls), Extras 8

England v Pakistan, 2016

Wisden's review of the second Test, England v Pakistan, 2016

The right kind of hunger

Joe Root takes John Hotten through his match-winning 254 against Pakistan in 2016

Six Pakistani collapses, one story

Poor shots, hilarious run-outs, making decent bowling look terrifying, and losing all ten for less than hundred: a look at the team's meltdowns this year

'Root was the difference' - Misbah

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq credited Joe Root's outstanding performance - 325 runs in the match, within one shot of the victory margin - to negate the threat of Yasir Shah and set-up England's match-defining first innings total

Standout performers continue to carry England

A crushing victory over Pakistan gave England plenty to be pleased about but familiar concerns remain over the make-up of the side

Pakistan tour of England and Ireland

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