England star batsman Joe Root will be aiming to continue his rich vein of form during the fifth Test match against Team India at The Oval.
Manchester`s outing was a remarkable one for Root, not only to help his team take a commanding position, but he also surpassed the Test bigwigs like Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, and Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest run-scorer in the format. Legendary Team India batsman Sachin Tendulkar enjoys the top spot on the list, with 15,921 runs, including 51 centuries in 200 Test matches.
Currently, Root has played 157 Test matches for England and has scored 13,409 runs, including 38 centuries and 66 half-centuries. His top score in the format if 262 runs.
Ahead of the fifth Test match at The Oval, the right-hander has an ordinary record compared to that of the Old Trafford and Lord`s Cricket Ground. In 11 Tests at The Oval, he has garnered 793 runs with an average of 41.73, with two centuries and four fifties to his name and a best score of an unbeaten 149 runs.
In the four Tests he has played at The Oval in this decade, his scores are very underwhelming: 21, 36, 23, 5, 91, 13 and 12. His last century here was way back in 2018 against India.
In the ongoing five-match Test series against the Shubman Gill-led India, Root has scored 403 runs in four Test matches with an average of 67.16. He also has two centuries and a half-century to his name, with a top score of 150 runs. He is England`s second-highest run-getter and overall sixth-highest run-getter.
In the fifth and final Test match, the `Three Lions` will be looking to secure the series by 3-1. On the other hand, India will look to secure a win, with an aim of ending the series with a tie.
Additionally, England`s skipper Ben Stokes will not line up for the final clash. The 34-year-old has sustained an injury in his right shoulder. In his absence, Ollie Pope will lead England in the fifth Test.
Also, Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse and Liam Dawson have been left out of the Playing XI, making way for Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue and Jacob Bethell.
(With ANI Inputs)