Joe Root equals record with sixth century of 2021

The England captain eventually fell for 121 at Headingley, his home ground, as England’s top four all reached fifty in the same innings for the first time since 2013

Joe Root pulled level with Denis Compton and Michael Vaughan as the only men to have made six Test centuries for England in a calendar year.

The England captain eventually fell for 121 at Headingley, his home ground, as England’s top four all reached fifty in the same innings for the first time since 2013.

This was the second-lowest of Root’s hundreds in this golden year: his previous efforts – all against India or Sri Lanka – featured scores of 228, 186, 218, 109 and 180.

It was also his third-fastest Test century for England – off 125 balls – bettered only by tons against Australia and Sri Lanka.

He came to the crease at 159 for 2, adding partnerships of 139 with Dawid Malan and 52 with Jonny Bairstow, before a delivery from Jasprit Bumrah found a way through his defence to bowl him, ending 165-ball vigil that left England more than 300 runs ahead.

In making his 23rd Test hundred, Root also moved level with Kevin Pietersen in second place among England’s most prolific century-makers, behind only Alastair Cook.

Pietersen and Cook – as well as Ian Bell and Dennis Amiss – all hit five centuries in a calendar year.