Joe Root is all set to join a pantheon of 14 England cricketers who have played 100-plus Test matches, when he leads his side in the opening match of the four-Test series against India at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on February 5 (Friday).
The 30-year-old from Yorkshire, who made his Test debut in Nagpur eight winters ago scoring 73 and 20 not out, and has 584 runs from six Tests against India at 53.09, spoke to The Hindu ahead of what promises to be a memorable occasion. Excerpts:
On the landmark: It’s great to come full circle and be back here [in India]. The way it started on that first tour in 2012, it was a real eye-opener for me, learning to play spin, playing with some great players and strong opposition. To come back to Chennai and play my 100th Test is very special. I can’t wait.
Batting in India: You’ve got to be prepared to bat for long periods. When you get in, especially in the first innings, you’ve got to really make it count. That’s what we’ll be aiming to do….