Joe Root's Australian Redemption: A Cricket Legend in the Making?
Is Joe Root the greatest batsman since the iconic Donald Bradman? This question has sparked debates after Root's remarkable performance in the Ashes series. Former Australian cricket star Darren Lehmann has made a bold claim, stating that Root is 'the best player outside of Bradman' following his second century in the series against Australia.
But here's the catch: Root had a notorious record in Australia before this series. He had played 14 Tests down under without ever reaching a century, a surprising statistic given his overall Test career brilliance.
Despite a formidable batting average of 50.94 and being England's leading run-scorer, Lehmann initially placed Root 'a rung below' modern greats like Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Virat Kohli. Lehmann's reasoning? Global consistency.
Lehmann's words in 2024: 'They've all scored runs everywhere, in tough conditions against various opponents. That's what Joe Root hasn't done. He's a great player, but is he an all-time great?'
This statement is intriguing, considering Root had already scored centuries in every major Test-playing nation except the UAE and Bangladesh, where he had played fewer Tests.
Root's Australian struggles seemed to continue in Perth, managing only eight runs in two innings. But Brisbane witnessed a turning point as Root smashed 138 runs in the day-night Test, ending his century drought in Australia.
And he wasn't done yet. In the final Test at the SCG, Root crafted another magnificent century, reaching the milestone in 146 balls. This was his 41st Test century, placing him in elite company alongside Sachin Tendulkar, Jaques Kallis, and Ricky Ponting.
Lehmann's prediction on ABC Radio: 'Once he scored a century in Australia, he'd be the greatest player outside Bradman statistically. He'll break all records and surpass Tendulkar's century count.'
Root, at 35, shows no signs of slowing down and aims to play until the 2027 World Cup. Tendulkar played his final Test at 40, and Root has his sights set on Tendulkar's record of 15,921 Test runs. With over 13,906 runs already, he's well on his way.
The SCG century holds extra significance for Root. It was here that he was dropped for the only time in his Test career in 2013/14 and retired hurt in 2018 due to extreme heat conditions. Now, he's conquered his Australian demons.
So, is Joe Root the best since Bradman? The debate rages on. What do you think? Is global consistency the ultimate measure of greatness, or can a player's impact be judged differently? Share your thoughts below!
