Root happy to play accompaniment to conductor Cook on way to timely Test ton

HUW TURBERVILL AT THE OVAL: As the English public’s love affair with Cook reached a crescendo on the fourth day at The Oval, Root sat back on his bat and enjoyed the symphony like the rest of us

^{England captain Joe Root hit a century at The Oval}

Joe Root did not so much play second fiddle to Alastair Cook as fourth French horn today.

As the English public’s love affair with Cook reached a crescendo on the fourth day at The Oval, Root sat back on his bat and enjoyed the symphony like the rest of us.

As four overthrows brought up Cook’s 33rd Test century, and after he shrugged and reluctantly took his encore with the crowd refusing to stop clapping, Root hugged his predecessor as captain.

His 125 was an important innings for Root, though, his first Test century of the summer. He is back in his beloved No.4 slot, where he has now made five of his 14 Test centuries, and averages 53.

^{Root's ton was his first for England in a year}

It brought to an end an irritating streak - 27 innings without a Test century, since his 136 against West Indies at Edgbaston last summer (in his first 108 Test innings he made 13). His 50/100 rate now stands at 14/41.

The 27-year-old’s partner, young son and parents were in the crowd to enjoy the moment.

Driving England towards a declaration, it was a purposeful, busy innings played at a decent tempo, although at times it was a bit frenetic and skittish (staccato even). It was certainly not classical Root. But it was welcome nevertheless. It ended a disappointing series for him personally, one that started with 80 at Edgbaston, on a high note.

SAM MORSHEAD: The Oval stands for Cook's farewell epic

He played shots from the off, reaching his half-century with a run-down to third man.

He enjoyed the bowling of Hanuma Vihari after the more vigorous test posed by Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Jadeja, and raced to 80. With Cook on 89, it looked as if the captain would pip him to three figures, but the tourists did not test Cook’s nerves as much as they should have done. In fact, Cook the conductor scored just as fluently as Root after lunch.

^{He was eventually dismissed for 125}

It was tip and run that saw Root reach 100, a push into the covers from his 151st ball (he had been batting for 207 minutes, with 11 fours and a six). It was his fourth Test century against India.

It sets Root up nicely for the three-Test series in Sri Lanka and West Indies this winter.

He has averaged about 45 since becoming captain, as opposed to 52 under Cook, so not disastrous, but that 50 to 100 conversion rate was becoming a bit of a problem.

England captains are judged primarily on their Ashes record, and he looks well placed to lead the bid to regain the Ashes next summer.