Joe Root Sets England Record with 34th Test Century

Joe Root has made history by scoring his 34th Test century, surpassing Alastair Cook's previous record of 33, during the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's. His innings of 103, alongside his first-innings score of 143, helped England reach a total of 251 all out, setting Sri Lanka a daunting target of 483 runs to level the three-match series. The visitors ended the third day at 53-2, facing a monumental task, as the highest successful fourth-innings chase in Test history stands at 418 runs. Root's seventh Test century at Lord's also grants him sole possession of the record for the most centuries at this iconic venue, previously shared with Graham Gooch and Michael Vaughan. Additionally, Root became only the fourth player to score centuries in both innings of a Test at Lord's, joining a select group of cricketing legends. As England aims for a 2-0 series lead, Root's performance has left Sri Lanka with a significant challenge ahead.