England v Pakistan: Joe Root hits 254 and Chris Woakes takes three wickets to leave visitors struggling on 57-4 in second Test
Pakistan trail Lions by 532 as Captain Cook and Co make amends for first Test defeat
ON and on he went, increasing his run mountain and ticking off the milestones. This was a special innings by Joe Root.
Root finished with the vast contribution of 254 runs against Pakistan on day two of the Investec Second Test.
Joe Root celebrates after going to his second double hundred for England
It was the biggest score of his first-class career, the third-highest in a Test match at Old Trafford and England’s third-best against Pakistan.
Not a bad effort by a man batting for only the third time in his new permanent position at No3.
Root is already among the handful of best batsmen in the world and there is little doubt he is on his way to being recognised as one of England’s all-time greats.
Root faced 406 balls, batted in total for ten hours and 18 minutes and was the mainstay of England’s humungous first innings of 589-8 declared.
Chris Woakes then continued his superb form from the first Test and took three wickets to help reduce Pakistan to 57-4 by the close. Only something freakish is going to stop England levelling the series at 1-1.
Related stories
While Root registered his second Test double century, there was a double century, too, for Pakistan wrist-spinner Yasir Shah, whose figures were an exhausting and unappealing 54-6-213-1. England have sure as heck learned some lessons from Lord’s about how best to play Yasir.
Alastair Cook made a century on Friday, of course, and there were plenty of runs down the England order. But Root was the star turn and captain Cook allowed him to lead off his team-mates at the end of play.
Root was dropped at slip by Younis Khan on 155, a sharp, low chance, but otherwise his innings was faultless. His full repertoire of strokes was on display and he went to his 200 with a perfectly-struck reverse sweep for four.
After several frustratingly soft dismissals in recent weeks, Root was ruthlessly determined not to toss away his wicket. He made Pakistan pay, big time, as amazingly he has had to wait until the third week of July for his first century in any format for England this summer.
Woakes, perhaps the best nightwatchman ever, made a half-century – including an uppercut shot that brought the first six of the series by either team – before plopping back a catch to Yasir.
Ben Stokes had a spiky little exchange with Wahab Riaz, who appeared to block the path of the England all-rounder as he ran between the wickets.
If Stokes was miffed at that, he was absolutely seething when given out a few minutes later.
He aimed a legside swish at a harmless ball from Wahab and there was an appeal and then a review from Pakistan. After several replays, third umpire Joel Wilson reckoned there was “conclusive evidence” to overturn the not out decision and give Stokes out.
Sure, there was white Hot Spot mark on Stokes’ glove but it was there before the ball arrived.
Stokes snatched his helmet from the ground and marched off shaking his head. Thankfully, there were no reports of damaged lockers in the England dressing-room.
Root and Jonny Bairstow compiled a century stand with increasing aggression as the declaration loomed.
Root eventually skied an attempted big hit to mid-wicket and Bairstow, batting selflessly, was caught in the deep.
England were soon making inroads into Pakistan’s batting. Woakes had Mohammad Hafeez caught at second slip by Root and Azhar Ali chipped back a return catch.
Younis Khan, again jumping around the crease, glanced a legside catch to Bairstow and nightwatchman Rahat Ali – not quite in Woakes’ class at the job – could only fend a short ball to short leg.
So far in this series, Woakes averages 58 with the bat and 8.57 with the ball.