Current England Test team Captain Joe Root celebrates his 29th birthday on Monday (December 30, 2019). Root was an important part in the 2019 Cricket World Cup-winning England squad as the right-handed batsmen scored 556 runs in 11 matches in the tournament at an average of 61.77 which included centuries against Bangladesh and West Indies. The current Test skipper made his debut for England in 2012 in the Test series against India and made his ODI and T20I debut on the same tour as well. Joe Root is currently ranked ninth in Tests and eighth in ODIs according to the latest ICC batting rankings. On the occasion of Joe Roots birthday, we take a look at some of his best knocks. New Year Honours 2020: West Indies Legend Clive Lloyd Awarded With Knighthood; English Cricketers Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan and Jos Butter Also Honoured.

Joe Root plays for Yorkshire in County Championship and made his debut for their second team on July 18, 2007 against Derbyshire where he scored 57 runs. He was given a crack in the first team during Yorkshire’s final pro40 match of the season against Essex where the young batsmen scored another half-century. Due to his success in the domestic circuit Root was selected for the 2010 U19 World Cup in New Zealand. The right-handed batsmen after his Test debut against India became the 655th player to represent England in the longest format. Root has been spectacular for England over the years and after Alastair Cook’s resignation in 2017, he was named as England’s Test captain. In his first match as the captain against South Africa, he became the sixth England player to score a century on a captaincy debut in Tests.

113 vs India – Leeds, September 2014

One of Joe Roots finest knocks in ODIs came during India’s tour of England in 2014. The English batsmen found it difficult to deal with India’s spin attack that was until Joe Root and Jos Buttler stitched up a partnership of 100 runs to take the home side to a respectable total. Buttler was out on 49 but Root stayed put to complete his second ODI hundred as his knock proved vital for England to come away with a win.

125 vs South Africa – Centurion, February 2016

Joe Root was at his best in the 3rd ODI of England’s tour of South Africa as the batsman scored his seventh ODI century. The right-handed batsmen paced his innings carefully and took the attack to the Proteas blowers as he scored a century with over a strike rate of 100. His innings included 10 fours and five massive sixes. The knock was nothing but a consolation in the end as a Hashim Amla master-class took South Africa over the line.

83 vs South Africa – Mumbai, March 2016

Joe Root was at his explosive best in this World T20 encounter as he helped England to stun South Africa in a record T20I chase. Root came on the crease in the fifth over and smashed the South African bowlers all around the park as he scored 83 runs off 43 balls. This innings helped England keep their World Cup campaign alive as a loss would have ended their campaign.

254 vs Pakistan – Manchester, July 2016

Joe Root’s highest Test score came against Pakistan in the second Test of the four-match series in 2016. The right-handed batsmen stitched up a partnership of around 200 runs with Alastair Cook for the second wicket as he completed the second double century of his Test career. Root played for 614 minutes to achieve this feat and his innings included 27 boundaries.

226 vs New Zealand – Hamilton, November 2019

Joe Root’s one of the best knocks in Test cricket came at an important time for him as the batsman was struggling for form and was under scrutiny for his poor performances. The England captain played for over ten hours and dominated the Kiwi bowling as he showed his class. His innings included 22 boundaries and a massive six.

Joe Root was recently honoured for his contributions towards cricket in the New Year’s Honours along with fellow world cup winning team-mates Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Eoin Morgan. The batsman was awarded The Most Excellent Order of British Empire (MBE) which is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to arts, science and public services outside the civil service.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 30, 2019 08:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).