Root is equal with Ricky Ponting for historic performance against India in Tests

Joe Root surpasses Javed Miandad, Clive Lloyd and Shivnarine Chanderpaul to create a big record against India in Tests.

New Delhi: England star Joe Root hit a well-fought fifty in the fourth Test against India at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi on February 23 to revive England’s fallen innings after lunch on Day 1. Root equaled Ricky Ponting for an iconic Test record against India. He now has twenty scores of over fifty against the Indian team in red ball cricket.

Root has surpassed Pakistan’s Javed Miandad, legendary Windies captain Clive Lloyd and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who have achieved scores of over fifty against India in Test 19. Root’s fifty helped England bounce back into the match after losing five wickets before lunch. His partnership with wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Foakes gave the visitors hope of fighting back into the match.

Earlier, debutant Akash Deep derailed England by taking three early wickets with his sharp bowling, before the spun duo of Ashwin and Jadeja took 1-wicket each in quick succession to throw England on the back foot.

Akash Deep, who took 11 wickets for four matches for India ‘A’ against England Lions last month, did most of the damage with his sensational 3-24 on a pitch showing many cracks. Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin took a scalp each to add more joy to India in the morning session.

Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root posted a stand of 52 runs off 57 balls for the fourth wicket, but the former missed the sweep against Ashwin and got stuck with one leg on the back thigh in front of the stumps, going for 38 off 35 balls fell.

By lunchtime, Stokes was only trapped three times as Jadeja’s delivery stayed low and hit the front pad just above the ankle. With Root still unbeaten on 16, England would need him and other batters to stick around to make a competitive total.