Emotion overwhelmed centurion Joe Root but normal service quickly resumed

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International captains have more to deal with than ever ahead of a Test match. Expectation, team selection, media duties, their own form, the opponent and any internal demons they might be fighting.

Add the emotion of a 100th appearance in the format into the equation in the midst of a defining 12 months and you'd be forgiven for being overwhelmed by it all.

Joe Root gave off all the signs of an individual attempting to battle such outside influences. The Yorkshireman was a mess at the toss on day one of the first Test against India in Chennai, constantly double-checking a pitch in case it hadn't changed during his pre-match interview with Murali Kartik. He could barely get a word out, forgetting his own team that had been named minutes earlier.

The previous evening, the 30-year-old had been touched by a video containing tributes by former players, friends and family, compiled by his team. Ben Stokes then made a rousing speech to the group, words which the skipper will "hold dear forever".

💬 "I certainly feel like I'm in some good form"

Just a bit...#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/Lb7EqQPHYI

— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) February 5, 2021

It is testament to the form Root currently finds himself in that with the ball reversing, India ticking and England vulnerable on 63 for 2 that he put all that aside and produced his best innings of a year which already includes three centuries and 554 runs.

"I was a little bit emotional," he admitted. "I couldn't even remember our team. I was all over the place. Once I got out there it was business as normal and I had a job to do. 

"The guys have made it really special for me and it has been an amazing two days. It would be nice to make this brilliant start count and build on a brilliant first day."

In these conditions, the most thorough examination Root might face will be questioning attempting to identify how a player who didn't score a century last year and has failed to average above 50 since 2017 has found the form of his life.

^{Root and Dom Sibley put on 200 for the third wicket on day one}

And though the 30-year-old needed Virat Kohli to shuffle to his aid late in the day to assist with a bout of cramp, an improvement of fitness seems to be key. Peloton challenges were a regular source of entertainment among players during lockdown, but they do at least appear to have made a tangible difference.

"I've been doing a lot of work and trying to follow a programme that Phil Scott (England strength and conditioning coach) puts together for us to make my back a bit more manageable and make my legs and backside a little bit stronger," explained Root.

"A combination of those things has had a significant impact on my game and I'll continue to try and work at that side to prove my skill as a player.

"There have been a number of things that I have tried to improve on, whether that be my mental approach to batting. 

"Physically I feel as good as I ever have so it is really important given the amount of cricket we have to play that physically that we are in as good shape as we can be and the best chance of being on the park as frequently as possible."

Images courtesy of BCCI