Some emails? Why not.

In relation to a discussion before I arrived, here’s Steve. “The ‘tireless Stephen Nichols’ (54th over) still has work to do, I’m afraid. I don’t know the answer myself, but the question of whether Len Hutton reached one hundred hundreds via an on drive is definitely not through cutting Fleetwood-Smith, the Aussie spinner who retired in 1940. That comment refers to Hutton’s 364 record score in 1938. He reached one hundred hundreds in 1951 against Surrey – or so says Wikipedia…”

That shouldn’t be difficult to solve from the cricketarchive card. Volunteer for that?

“Favourite threesomes” is the title of Brian Withington’s email! Hooley dooley, is this the OBO or an episode of Industry? Anyway, back to my great OBO pal. “Earlier today Alastair Cook was quoted as suggesting that he might in due course celebrate the Joe Root record with him by opening the bottle that Graham Gooch had bought him when SAC had passed the latter’s record. I’d love to eavesdrop that occasion but I wonder what other nominations there might be for favourite ‘fly on the wall‘ threesomes of three players (living or otherwise) who share some common history?”

Nice topic. I’ll go with, say… Clem Hill, Victor Trumper and Warwick Armstrong.

Robin Kellett-Navellou has a song to replace the Rooooooot chant. To Joelene:

“Joe Root, Joe Root, Joe Root, Joe Roooooooooooot,
I’m begging of you, please don’t stop your thing
Joe Root, Joe Root, Joe Root, Joe Roooooooooot,
One of England’s finest, cricket’s king”

Last one for now – I need a cuppa myself. Krishnamoorthy V, good morning. “As there is virtually no chance of a result inside 5 days for this batting marathon to end, should such Tests become ambitious and reduce such high scoring matches to be decided by a single innings. That will bring in some spice to an otherwise a meandering draw.”

I don’t agree with this. Part of what England do, whether you love or loathe it, is inject time back into the game by going at 5 an over, as they have here. There’s time.

Another superb session for the visitors. It finished with Root and Brook raising their 100 partnership, up to 102 from 123 balls. The only wicket to fall was Duckett, who got a good one from Aamer Jamal on 84 (75 balls!), trapped leg before. 119 runs in a session that lasted just 25 overs, which leaves 40 after the break. With England 205 behind… they could even be in the black by stumps, which is wild. Oh, and Joe Root completed his 35th Test ton between lunch and tea after overtaking Alastair Cook’s England run-scoring record before the long break. Just another day for this all-time great.

TEA: England 351-3

69th over: England 346-3 (Root 118, Brook 60) Abrar has the chance to yell ‘caaatch’ himself this over when Brook sweeps, but it ends up down at long-on out the middle of the bat. Excuse the cliche: he does hit the ball in unusual places. Earlier in the over, Root clipped a couple to midwicket then raced through for another single in that direction.

Emil Fortune has sent me some research on how far cricketers run in each position ont he field. I’ll take a look at it when the tea break arrives – you can too.

68th over: England 341-3 (Root 115, Brook 58) Caaaaatch! The cry goes out from Naseem, giving it everything here at Root when banging it in short enough and quick enough to earn a hooked top edge… but it doesn’t carry to the man at deep backward square as he hoped, instead tricking over the rope. He’s now four overs into his spell and that might be it, despite how many challenging questions he’s asked so far.

67th over: England 335-3 (Root 110, Brook 57) Abrar to these two – sweep, sweep, sweep – three added without any drama whatsoever. They’ve now put on 86.

“Is it me, or is this turning into a ChatGPT version of any recent England innings?” asks Peter Salmon. “Pope going for 0, Crawley out in the 70s, Duckett failing to turn an 80 into a ton and Root serenely getting three figures. I expect Brook to be out for a beautifully fluent 60-odd, Smith to make 38-ish, and Woakes to make a good 26.”

Interviewed Duckett during the one-day series (not out yet) and he said how frustrating it was getting out for scores like today all summer. He’d be furious to cop that when he did having played so masterfully today. But yes, Big Fish, your point is a fair one.

66th over: England 332-3 (Root 108, Brook 56) Naseem is bowling a controlled line trying to nick them off but they are both able to play behind point without too much trouble at this stage – two singles to begin. A touch fuller to Root, who square drives out to point for three… that wouldn’t be fun on legs that are cramping.

I spent a lot of time as part of the Glenn Maxwell book process (pre-order now, out on 30 October!) talking with him about the cramp he had in the absurd 201 not out he made in Mumbai last year. It led to him having something of a panic attack on the field. I reckon sometimes we think of cramp as something akin to being hit in the box – something to almost laugh at. But when your legs don’t work anymore, it’s a daunting prospect.

“Hi Adam.” Hello, Harry Lang. “I’m delighted for Root on reaching his milestones, and great to hear Cook was straight on the phone offering his applause – as of course he would be. How far can Root go from here? The magic appears to be in how much he enjoys himself. Apart from the stern-faced purgatory of his captaincy period, he still looks like an impish schoolboy scrumping apples as he purrs yet another cover drive towards the ropes. Long may he continue to have fun, as it’s a joy and privilege to watch. Best regards from a damp Cotswolds.”

Well, he’s up to 12,510 runs and Sachin finished with 15,921. So, can he keep ticking over at about this rate for about four more years? It’s a huge ask. If he can, then the tons record (Tendulkar 51 v Root 35) will probably go as well. Dare to dream, sports fans.

65th over: England 326-3 (Root 103, Brook 55) Abrar around the wicket to two set men relies on one of them losing their head. They don’t here, milking three singles.

Interesting point from Nasser on telly flagging the possibility of Root retiring hurt given he’s clearly suffering out there in this heat. Remember too, he only missed eight balls in the middle for the whole match. I don’t think it’ll happen, but still. Gary Naylor has thoughts on this. “Do you (or anyone in the OBO Massive) know why players cramp up so often these days?” he asks. “For 30 years or so, I neither saw nor heard of it, but now it seems almost de rigeur after a few hours in the sun. With so many Strength and Conditioning staff (slightly worrying phrase that) with hands-on roles home and abroad, hi-tech gels to wolf down and drinks breaks on demand, you would think things would be getting better rather than worse. Imagine if they bowled 90 overs per day!”

I don’t want to get into a conversation about climate change on the OBO but I’d urge you to take a look at the Hit For Six report from 2019 to get a sense of just how different the game often is now even compared to 10 or 20 years ago. That has to be playing a role.

64th over: England 323-3 (Root 102, Brook 53) David Gower jumps on TV comms (so good hearing the great man’s voice) and tells us that Joe’s brother Billy, the Glamorgan batter who won the MetroBank Cup just a couple of weeks ago, is getting married today. Lovely stuff. I should note that Root has overtaken Lara, Jayawardene and Younis Khan’s 34 Test centuries with just Dravid, Sangakkara, Ponting, Kallis and Tendulkar ahead of him. I’ve been saying for a couple of years he’s half a chance to overtake Sachin both for tons and runs, which occasionally gets me in trouble online. We’ll see. Back to the action, Naseem beats Root with a gem – shape and carry with the old ball; takes some doing. But the appeal isn’t honoured and they can’t justify referring it.

Now the ton has been and gone, I can rattle through of your emails. The first, from Anthony Heath, was very cross that TMS were putting the mockers on Root. I received a similar tweet from my occasional teammate Roger Bolstridge. Gents, there’s no such thing as a commentator’s curse, although Mitch Marsh might disagree with me given how many times I’ve been on radio comms when he’s been out nearing three figures…

Joe Root brings up his 35th Test century

Brook to 50!

61st over: England 312-3 (Root 99, Brook 45) Ben Stokes jobs out in the high-viz between overs to give Joe Root a drink. Eventually, that’s followed by a fresh set of gloves from a second Twelfth Man. Abrar to Brook, again around the wicket, and another easy single to midwicket. Root looks out that way to count the sweepers – will he take one of them on? He doesn’t need to with a flatter ball aimed at off stump, picked off to deep cover for a couple. 98. Back to the outside leg line, Root presses to midwicket and looks up again. Where will he look to get this couple? Heaps of gaps with so many men back. Spin here; glove to thigh pad – no short leg. The penultimate ball, full, turned to short fine for one. 99. Brook keeps the strike with another to square leg.

60th over: England 307-3 (Root 96, Brook 43) Shaheen again with the short-ball field in place, leaving just a gully and catching cover up on the posh side. Root gets something full out there early in the over and helps himself to a couple out to deep cover. And goes again that way later in the over the next time he’s full, driven past the catching cover for a boundary that takes him on to 96! Classic Root, total control with his placement. One ball left and it’s full once more and Root drives it sweetly… but straight to mid-on.

Tim Walker is first into my inbox on the topic of distances run in a match. “In these very, very hot conditions do we know how far players run in a day? Many (is it just bowlers) wear those tracker things? I’m not just thinking of fast bowlers but the deep fielders (often the same players) who in a Pakistan innings of 550 odd must have to cover a lot of ground chasing around after lost causes.”

Good question. Absolutely no idea. Anyone care to provide an estimate?

59th over: England 301-3 (Root 90, Brook 43) With Abrar around the wicket, Root and Brook exchange singles to sweepers in the deep on the legside. In the process, the half-century stand is raised in just 53 balls. Just another day following this England team. Root reaches the 90s with an easy single down to long-off. Oh, the 300 is up as well.

58th over: England 298-3 (Root 88, Brook 42) Between overs, we get a look at the choppers flying over the ground. You get used to that when watching Test cricket in Pakistan with security such a major focus. At Karachi a couple of years ago, they hovered right over our box each morning as the team arrived – strangely exciting. Shaheen to Brook, with the modern million-blokes-back to try and get him out hooking. Every team does this these days when the board is ticking over, as it always does when Brook gets going early on. And how does the batter respond? By inside-out slapping through cover for four – that takes some doing with Shaheen banging in left-arm around. And again! Same result. A higher degree of difficulty with both feet looking out of position but he nails it to the same rope. Freak. This, my pals, is the modern age.

57th over: England 288-3 (Root 87, Brook 33) Okay, we’re back from the early drinks break with Joe Root back after what looked to be a little bit of cramp. You’d never know from the reverse he attempted to finish the over, which nearly made it to leg slip. Earlier, Abrar was up for leg before but from a ball well outside leg stump.

And they take an unexpectedly early drinks break, Root guzzling some kind of gel after crying out in pain with sudden leg cramp. So time for me to hand over to Adam Collins, fresh from the school run. Thanks for all your messages, bye!

56th over: England 286-3 (Root 86, Brook 32) Brook shimmies a wide one from Shaheen through the off side for four. Shan Masood swishes his arm with the frustration of the introvert. On commentary, Nasser talks about how Wasim and Waqar built up their match fitness during stints in Championship cricket for Lancashire and Surrey and Glamorgan respectively. A terrifying prospect for county batsmen.

55th over: England 280-3 (Root 86, Brook 26) Just a single from Abrar.

54th over: England 279-3 (Root 86, Brook 22) Shaheen returns, he’s not been quite the same bowler since those repeated injuries. He is a stronger-looking young man now rather than the stringbean he was in his breakthrough years. Brook eases him through the off side for a couple. And they pause for Root to wipe the sweat from his hands and his face.

A tireless Stephen Nicholls has done the research on Len Hutton so you don’t have to.

“Cricinfo says: “Anyway, in the end Fleetwood-Smith bowled me a long hop outside the off stump. Gratefully, I chopped it through the slips and I had done it.”

which rather spoils the theme, so maybe we just keep this to ourselves? 🙂

53rd over: England 276-3 (Root 86, Brook 22) Brook already in ominous form, Root characteristically happy to play second fiddle. Brook dismissively sweeps Abrar to the fine leg boundary, think an angry young man in a kitchen sink drama.

52nd over: England 268-3 (Root 83, Brook 17) Red soles kicking up behind him, Jamal sprints in, reversing ball in hand. Brook stretches forward and flicks him with elastic wrists through the off side to the rope. Jamal then oversteps again. Brook finishes the over by driving with high elbow and delicious balance for four more.

“Hi Tanya,” Hello there John Plunkett,”;Loving the show. They’re piping in the crowd noises on the telly, right? Or is there a packed to capacity stand just out of reach of the wide shots? Now I’ve thought about it I can’t stop thinking about it (need to get out more).” Now you come to mention it… though to be fair a few more seem to have appeared since lunch.

51st over: England 257-3 (Root 83, Brook 7) Abrar continues his more miserly second spell.

Thank you to Simon for digging up Cook on Root in full from TMS:

I can see him overhauling Sachin Tendulkar’s record. When I retired, I thought there was every chance that my record will be broken. I thought only the effects of captaincy and the hunger that takes out of you would stop him. I think the fact that Ben Stokes has taken over the captaincy has helped Root.

You could say Sachin is still the favourite but just. He’s been so lucky with injuries. All great players who played for a long time have been lucky with injuries. You just never know what’s around the corner, but it has to be something like it that could stop him. But I don’t see that happening for Root to lose that hunger and ability to keep driving himself forward for the next couple of years.

The only slight hurdle in his way will be the Ashes series – there is always something happening around the series. It’s in 14 months’ time and there’s always a story about the damage that happens or doesn’t happen around every Ashes series.

I’d give Sachin 51% and Root 49%. But I would be betting on Root to do it.

50th over: England 255-3 (Root 82, Brook 6) Brook doesn’t hang about, picks up his first boundary off his second ball with a nudge to the rope.

WICKET! Duckett lbw Jamal 84 (England 249-3)

49th over: England 247-2 (Root 81, Duckett 84) Abrar suddenly finding something, and England have been slow out of the blocks after lunch. Maybe both batters have their eyes on a hundred.

“Morning Tanya. Just tumbled out of bed and stumbled to the kitchen before catching up on the morning’s play. Any signs that the pitch has indeed yawned and stretched and tried to come to life? Maybe it’s time for both sides to pour themselves a cup of ambition. Anyway, thanks for the updates. Working 5 to 9, what a way to make a living.” Pitch still looking pretty comatose to be honest. Talking of Dolly, did you see that she serenaded Worcestershire bowler Joe Leach to the crease in the last innings of his career last week?

TMS overseas link

47th over: England 242-2 (Root 79, Duckett 82) Shan Masood ignores Nasser Hussain, who was imploring Pakistan to use pace from both ends after lunch, and opens with Abrar. Tip and tap.

”We are always told the on drive is the most difficult shot in cricket,” writes Stephen Nichols. “When Boycott reached his hundredth hundred at Headingly, it was with an on drive. For Root in Multan, the record came with the calmest on drive you’ll ever see. Maybe it’s a Yorkshire thing, to reach a landmark with an on drive?” Great spot Stephen– can I leave you to do some research on Hutton?

46th over: England 238-2 (Root 77, Duckett 80) Jamal sprints in, Root is respectful until the final ball when Jamal plonks one invitingly outside off stump and Root purrs through the covers for four. The dog, who has stolen my corner seat on the sofa, mumbles contently.

The players are back, Joe Root, 12 years after he started his career, now the highest scoring Englishman. Do you think a wedding suited and booted Billy Root is affectionately rolling his eyes somewhere in south Wales?

“Whenever a player becomes the highest scorer for their country I’m always taken back to being a 13-year-old watching Australia v Pakistan in Sydney, Jan 1984. Greg Chappell had announced his retirement, still needing 68 to go past Bradman’s record 6996 runs. He got there with overthrows and went on to score 182 making his first and last innings hundreds. Such lovely stuff. Good player that, as is young Root.” Lovely story, thank you Peter Salmon.

Hello Daniel Brown! “So, Root just became England’s highest ever run scorer. Would you say that makes him our best-ever batsman, or is it more nuanced than that?”

Notwithstanding the record, in my lifetime, definitely, as fabulous as Gower was to watch. Where he fits alongside Barrington, Hutton, Hammond, Sutcliffe, Barrington and Hobbs, I feel less qualified to say.

“He’s quite modest isn’t he,” says his dad, who has phoned into TMS from south Wales where other son Billy is getting married today. “He’s quite modest, quite low key. I’m just as we say in Yorkshire, chuffed to bits.”

Alastair Cook has dialled into TMS from the school run, and very humble he is too. Has he pinged Root a message yet? “Not yet, I’ve got a few hours to think about what to say, Gooch got me a fantastic bottle of wine for breaking the record, maybe I’ll break it open with Goochy and Root later.”

As to whether it will mean anything to him, Steven Finn says yes, it will mean the world.

Joe Root can eat his lunch happily now, though I’ve no idea if such records mean anything much to him. The highest scoring Englishman in Test history – and this is the moment it happened.

How lucky we’ve all been to watch him.

Time to grab some breakfast, back shortly.

Lunch: England 232-2, 324 behind

44th over: England 226-2 ( Root 71, Duckett 75) A low full toss down the leg side from Jamal is whipped away by Duckett for three. Masood is tempted by an lbw review against Root, but decides, wisely, not to burn his third in half an hour. Jamal finishes the over with a spicy bouncer.

“Morning Tanya,” Morning Colum Fordham.

”Just hoping that Root can reach the record test run milestone before I have to dash off to teach. If he doesn’t I’ll just have to inflict the moment on unsuspecting Neapolitan students. It’s all part of their cultural upbringing I say.” What student would turn their nose up at a little Joe Root masterclass on a Wednesday morning?

43rd over: England 223-2 ( Root 71, Duckett 72) A no ball, but otherwise an uneventfully tidy over from Abrar.