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Jonny Bairstow believes Joe Root, England's captain, can do even more despite his impressive form.
Root did a remarkable 180 not out on the third day of the second Test against India, Lord's. This was his second hundred runs in as little as eight days.
He scored his fifth century Test in 2021. Only Denis Compton or Michael Vaughan have scored six Test centuries in an England year.
He is only thirty years old. Bairstow said that he is still at his peak.
"It's really exciting, and to see what he could possibly go is great for English Cricket."
Root's brilliant innings led England to 391 runs, a lead of 27 runs. The game was still in limbo with just two days remaining.
Because he was short of partners, he was denied the chance to be the first England player ever to score three double hundreds in a calendar-year.
Bairstow answered a question about Root's significance to England. He said, "A hell of a lot, just like he does for English cricket."
Root batted so well
Former England batsman Mark Ramprakash stated that he looked fluent right from the beginning. He is a tremendous player. He just continued from Trent Bridge.
He is on an exceptional run. He appears to have mentally added another element to his game where he is really ruthless."
Jonathan Agnew, BBC cricket correspondent, described Root's 180 as "wonderful and well-controlled innings", adding that "he got a slap on his back from some Indians."
Simon Mann, TMS commentator, said that it was a masterclass. It was another spectacular exhibition on Saturday afternoon.
Michael Vaughan, former England captain, said that it was all about Joe Root again. He is enjoying a great year.
Perhaps former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta best summarized it: "He is unstoppable."
Root's landmarks
Root is the only player to have collected many landmarks in this particular game...
Graham Gooch's 8,900 Test runs record was surpassed by Gooch, putting him in second place on the England all time list, behind Alastair cook's 12,472.
He was 30 years old and 227 days. Cook was the second youngest player to reach 9,000 Test runs.
He was able to score his 22nd Test century. England has only Cook (33) or Kevin Pietersen (23), with more.
He scored 150 runs, which was joint-top with Cook in England batsmen.
He reached 150 in 2021 for the fourth consecutive time, ranking second to Pakistan's Mohammad Yousuf in calendar years.
Root's form is so great that he has scored more centuries in 2021 than any other player...
5: Joe Root
4: India
4: New Zealand
3: South Africa
3: West Indies
"A one-man army"
Root's brilliant innings were praised all over the world.
Even the Premier League's first day was a success, and he even caught the attention of the football community.
The leading light in England
Root would have received more support from his teammates if England was not looking for its first win in seven Tests.
Average Centuries for England Test Runs Joe Root 1,244, 69.11 5 Rory Burns 334, 33.00 1 Dom Sibley 356, 20.94 0 Dan Lawrence 342, 27.23 0 Jonny Baileyrstow 28.30 Source: Cricinfo external link
This begs the question: How can the rest England batsmen help their captain?
Vaughan has an original idea. "The rest England's players should place their bats into Joe Root's bag to see if the magic of his bat rubs off onto theirs."
"We used to do this with Darren Lehmann in Yorkshire. He would walk around with a bag stuffed full of our bats and averaged 80-odd per year.
Bairstow is not ruling out Root, his Yorkshire team-mate, collecting a third consecutive century in the third Test at Headingley on 25 August.
Bairstow said, "I'm very lucky to have spent a decent amount time with him at the edge today and over the past 15 years," adding that he made 57 runs in a stand of 129.
They are memorable times. It is even more special if you can share it with your best friends.
It's two in two. Next, we go to Headingley and he might make it three-in-three."
It is hard to deny based on the evidence from the last week.
