Root, who scored his fourth Test century in the last five matches, was still at stumps after scoring an unbeaten 163.
Root, who scored his fourth Test century in the last five matches, was still at stumps after scoring an unbeaten 163.
Joe Root and Ollie Pope scored centuries to help England take 473-5 on Sunday as New Zealand’s first innings total of 553 on the third day of the second Test turned into batsmen’s heaven at Trent Bridge.
Root, who is currently the world’s most in-form batsman in Test cricket, was still at stumps for an unbeaten 163, giving England hope to come out of the first innings with an unexpected lead.
While Root is used to scoring a century – it was his fourth in five Tests and 27th of his career – Pope reached three figures for the second time in four years in the England team and the first time at home.
Pope’s 145 beat his previous best score, an unbeaten 135 against South Africa in January 2020, and justified England’s new leadership’s decision to promote him to No. 3 for this international summer.
Alex Lees (67) and Ben Stokes (46) played crucial innings and Ben Fox was dismissed for 24 not out with Root, with England trailing 80.
England lead the three-match series 1-0 after a five-wicket win in the first Test at Lord’s last week.