England vs India 2021, 3rd Test, Day 2 Stats Review: Joe Root's century-hitting spree shatters one record after another

It was again a horrendous day for Team India at the office as England have tightened their grip over the third Test at the Headingly in Leeds. At stumps on Day 2, the Three Lions were 423/8, leading by 345 runs in the first innings. With three days of play left, India’s defeat looks nothing but a mere formality. Hence, they need to put up a truly exceptional effort to make any sort of comeback in this contest.

For the unversed, India, having elected to bat, got bundled out for mere 78 runs in the first innings. While they were expected to bounce back with the ball, England batters were on a roll. In fact, both English openers Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed scored half-centuries on the first day itself as England were 120/0 at stumps.

India started Day 2 on an impressive note, dismissing Rory Burns (61) in the first hour. Hameed also couldn’t add much to his overnight score and went back to the hut after scoring 68. However, the baton of run-scoring was passed onto Dawid Malan and skipper Joe Root and the duo didn’t disappoint.

While Malan slammed 70 runs, Root advanced to his third ton of the series. It can also be said that the duo pushed the visitors further back. The likes of Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja got some important wickets but their effort is all but likely to go in vain. Meanwhile, the Three Lions have a lead of 345 runs at stumps on Day 2 and their win seems just a matter of time.

Meanwhile, here are the important stats and numbers from the England vs India 3rd Test Day 2

8 – Joe Root now has eight centuries in England vs India Tests, most for any player.

8 – Root’s tally of eight Test centuries against India is joint fifth-most for any batter. Vivian Richards, Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith, and Gary Sobers are the others with as many Test tons against India.

3 – Joe Root becomes the third player to score over 500 runs in two home Test series against India. Ricky Ponting and Zaheer Abbas are the other two holding the feat.

4 – Ravindra Jadeja became the fourth left-arm spinner to complete 450 wickets in international cricket. Shakib Al Hasan, Daniel Vettori, and Rangana Herath are the only other three with the milestone.

4 – Root now has 1398 Test runs in 2021, fourth-most by any captain in a calendar year. It’s also the most by an England skipper.

2 – Root registered his 14th Test hundred at home, joint second-most for any English player alongside Geoffrey Boycott.

7 – Root became the seventh player to score a century in the first, second, and third Test of a series against India.

1 – Root also became the first England captain to slam six Test centuries in a calendar year.

2 – Root has also equalled Kevin Pietersen’s tally of 23 tons in international cricket, joint second-most for an England player. Alastair Cook tops this list with 33 centuries.

5 – This was the fifth instance of all of England’s top four scoring half-centuries in a Test innings against India.

5 – Mohammed Shami became the fifth Indian bowler to complete 100 Test wickets in SENA countries. He joined Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, and Ishant Sharma