- July 13, 2025
You can doubt his form. You can doubt his technique. But one thing you can’t do is keep Joe Root quiet for long. Just as the whispers surrounding his performance began to rise following the Edgbaston slip-up, England’s reliable No. 4 reminded us all what he is capable of, A modern giant of Test cricket, Root showcased his talents, calmly dismantling India’s attack at Lord’s, the Home of Cricket, and proudly finishing with his 37th Test century. Once again, Cricket Twitter exploded. And rightly so.
Joe Root’s Love Affair with Lord’s
There is an enigma regarding the Lord’s ground and Joe Root. It is akin to Roger Federer at Wimbledon or Lionel Messi at Camp Nou. When he is at Lord’s, Root has taken his game to an entirely new level. In his latest innings and contribution of 104 runs off 199 balls, Root secured yet another wicket, bringing his total to an impressive 8 Test centuries at Lord’s.
Speaking of which—extraordinary innings sometimes transcend the tally on the scoreboard; it’s the circumstances around the innings that make it special. After only 22 and 6 at Edgbaston in the prior Test, Root was under pressure. There were questions about his rhythm, and people are even talking about him being past it. What they have failed to realize is that class is permanent. Root didn’t score just runs; he created an image of calmness under pressure. The footwork was sharp, the timing was superb, and the balance was almost perfect.
Answering Doubts with a Century’s Grace
Cricket can be cruelly fickle. After Edgbaston, Root’s form was up for scrutiny. But at Lord’s, he answered his critics, like always, with the bat, not words.
What made his performance even better was that he now shares the record of 11 Test centuries scored against India, joining Steve Smith, the Aussie legend, at the top of that unique list. Smith is frenetic and unusual, Root is elegant, and almost meditative.
Social media couldn’t help but pay tribute, too. From fans calling him the ‘royal blade of England’ to pronouncements of him being ‘the greatest Test batter of this era,’ Root received the kind of kudos that feels warranted, not hyperbolic. And honestly, when you’re over 13,000 Test runs with 37 centuries, it’s hard to argue.
Bumrah’s Kryptonite… but Just for a Moment
Come on, let’s be honest, it wasn’t quite all plain sailing. The same bowler, Root, conquered for his ton – Jasprit Bumrah – came back to haunt him, and in typical poetic style, just a few overs later. A full ball, a little inside edge, and boom – middle stump gone. Root was out for 104, leaving with a standing ovation, having delivered what was required.
Bumrah has now dismissed Root 11 times in Test cricket, equaling his record for dismissals with Pat Cummins. If nothing else, this shows the foundational respect and little else that exists between two world-class players. For the viewers, this is possibly the best subplot of Test cricket: Root v Bumrah; elegance v fire; calm v chaos.
The wicket, of course, doesn’t diminish Root’s innings. Its impact had already been felt before the wicket and the way it swung the momentum, set the tone and, most importantly, brought England back into the contest. The rest? Just numbers.
So, the next time you hear chatter about Root slowing down, just remember: you can’t keep class quiet for long. Will Root go on to surpass Sangakkara, Ponting, or even Kallis? Time will tell. But for now, Lord’s has spoken—and it’s saying Joe Root still runs this show.
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