[Watch] "We are watching a genius" - Sir Alastair Cook reacts as Joe Root overhauls him for most Test centuries for England
Former England captain Sir Alastair Cook reacted to Joe Root breaking his record of most Test hundreds for the country. The former Essex batter, who was on commentary during the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's, felt the ex-captain is undoubtedly a worthy custodian of the record and is England's greatest.
Root entered the series against Sri Lanka with a tally of 32 centuries and needed a couple more to go beyond Cook. The Yorkshire batter equaled his former skipper's record in the first innings at Lord's and went past him in the second. The 33-year-old also struck his seventh Test hundred at Lord's.
Speaking on commentary for the BBC Test Match Special, the 39-year-old stated:
"He is quite simply England's greatest. And it's absolutely right that he should have the record on his own. Take it in Joe, we are watching a genius."
It was also under the former opening batter that Root made his Test debut in 2012 during England's famous series win on Indian soil. The latter is also within touching distance of taking over Cook for most Test runs for England.
"I called it when he was on about 6 today, that he was going to get 100" - Sir Alastair Cook
The 161-Test veteran also stated that it gives him immense pleasure to see how the right-hander goes about his work. He added:
"I don't think there's a batsman that I can remember watching play [who shares] the sense of inevitability about scoring runs that Joe Root gives off. I called it when he was on about 6 today, that he was going to get 100. I know he's in great form, but it's just a pleasure to watch a master, a craftsman at work."
England eventually set Sri Lanka 483 to win, with the tourists requiring a world-record chase to level the series.