SL vs ENG, 2021: List of records Joe Root created with his 228-run knock against Sri Lanka

Joe Root began 2021 in style with a record-breaking double century in the first Test match against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium. The England captain struck only 18 fours and a six during his 228-run knock which came in only 321 balls. He was involved in two 100-run partnerships with Jonny Bairstow and Danny Lawrence to take England’s lead past the 200-run mark. He was the last man to be dismissed in England’s innings not before lifting them to 421 and extend the lead to 286 runs.

Here are all the stats and records that the England skipper registered with his 228-run knock at the Galle Stadium:

1 – Joe Root became the first England captain to smash multiple double hundreds in Test cricket. His first Test double ton as captain came during the 2019-20 tour of New Zealand. Root is also the first English batsman to score a double hundred in Test cricket in Sri Lanka.

However, his score of 228 is now the 2nd highest by any player from England in Sri Lankan first-class cricket. Essex’s Varun Chopra made an unbeaten 233 for the Tamil Union CAC against Sinhalese SC in 2012.

2 – Both of Root’s double tons as captain in Test cricket came while playing away from England. This makes Root only the 5th player with multiple double tons in Test cricket as a captain. Graeme Smith (4) and Stephen Fleming (3) are ahead of Root in this list while Bob Simpson and Brian Lara also have two such knocks apiece.

8y 34d – Joe Root needed 8 years and 34 days from debut to complete 8000 runs in Test cricket. He is now the 2nd quickest to the milestone in terms of days behind only Sir Alastair Cook (7y 302d).

30y 17d – At the age of 30 years and 17 days, Joe Root became the 3rd youngest batter to complete 8000 runs in Test cricket. Only Sir Alastair Cook (29y 3d) and Sachin Tendulkar (29y 27d) have reached this milestone being younger than Root.

178 – Innings Root needed to reach 8000 runs in Test cricket; the 2nd fewest by any player for England. Kevin Pietersen was the fastest England batsman to complete 8000 Test runs which he reached in 176 innings. Root is also only the 7th player from England to complete 8000 runs in Test cricket.

228 – Root’s 228-run knock is now the 3rd highest individual score by a captain in Test cricket on Sri Lankan soil. Mahela Jayawardene smashed 374 against South Africa in the 2006 Colombo (SSC) Test while Stephen Fleming made 274 against the home team in the 2003 Colombo (PSS) Test.

The 228 by Root is also the 3rd highest individual score by any player at the Galle International stadium. Chris Gayle struck 333 for West Indies in the 2010 Test match while Mahela Jayawardene scored 237 against South Africa in 2004.

228 – Joe Root’s 228 is now the highest individual score by any player in Test matches between Sri Lanka and England. Mahela Jayawardene (213* in 2007 Galle Test) and Sanath Jayasuriya (213 in 1997 Oval Test) had the previous highest score in SL-ENG Test matches. The previous highest Test score for England against Sri Lanka was 203 by Jonathan Trott in the 2011 Cardiff Test.

263 – Sir Alastair Cook’s 263 against Pakistan in the 2015 Abu Dhabi Test remains the highest individual score by an England player in Test cricket in Asia. Root’s 228 at the Galle Stadium now stands at 2nd in this list. Overall, Root’s double ton is only the 2nd in Test cricket in Asia for England in the last 35 years.