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The English skipper and an integral part of the "Fab Four" Joe Root has been in the form of his life this calendar year. In the ongoing Test series against India, he has cracked three tons in three Tests and is easily the best batsman from either side, if not the world.

Cricwizz takes a look at Root’s success this year in numbers.

1398 runs - Root has aggregated 1398 runs in 2021 so far, more than 80 percent of the next highest Test scorer – Rohit Sharma - this year. In terms of runs, Root has scored 630 more runs than second-placed Rohit – 768 runs. He is now 390 runs away from Mohammad Yousuf's record of 1788 runs which he achieved in the year 2006. Given that England have two more matches in this series and the Ashes slated to take place end of this year, the record set by the Pakistani is likely to be in danger. 

6 tons - Root has scored 6 tons in 11 Tests this year. He is joint third in the list of most Test tons in a calendar year. Mohammad Yousuf of Pakistan tops the list with 9 tons in 2006.

974 runs - Root is 974 runs ahead of the next best English scorer – Rory Burns - in Tests in this calendar year. Burns has scored 424 runs in 7 Tests this year. It explains how Root has carried the English batting on his shoulders alone this year.

4 tons – Root has cracked 4 tons against India in 7 Tests this year. None of the other English batsmen is yet to score a ton against India this year. During the course of this year, Root reached 8 tons against India – the most by any English batsman against India. The next best is Alastair Cook with 7 tons against India.

4 scores of 180 – Root has made 4 scores of 180 and more this year out of 6 tons, highlighting his penchant for tall scores. It includes 2 double tons as well.

4:1:1 -Out of the 6 tons this year by Root, only 1 came in a loss – 180 not out against India at Lord’s. Four have come in wins, and one in a draw. 

3:3 Root has scored 3 tons at home in England, and 3 tons in the sub-continent, including India and Sri Lanka. It implies he has been comfortable playing both pace and spin. 

New Zealand – Root has only failed against New Zealand this year, making 97 runs in 4 innings @ 24.25 without a single score of fifty. England drew one match and lost the second to lose the series 0-1.

**Please note: The stats are latest of August 30, 2021

Cover photo courtesy: ICC Facebook page