Joe Root | Joe Root returns to play in his 150th ODI with a half century against Sri Lanka

England’s Test captain Joe Root has been facing a lot of criticism from critics for quite some time now. Many former veterans did not consider him fit for limited overs cricket and since September 2020, he did not even get a chance to play in the ODI team. Now with the first ODI against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, Root has returned to ODI cricket after nine months and has given a befitting reply to critics by making many records along with his brilliant innings.

Joe Root’s best innings

In the first one-day match, the English bowlers performed brilliantly and bowled out the Sri Lankan team for 185 runs, who came out to bat first. After this, when the English team came out to bat, they started well but after losing the first wicket for 54 runs, they lost 4 wickets for 80 runs. England’s team had lost 4 wickets within 26 runs and during this time Joe Root stood pegged on the pitch. Root completed his fifty in 58 balls. He played a brilliant innings of 79 not out in 87 balls which included 4 fours. He returned to the pavilion only after giving his team a 34.5 overs win.

Amazing in 150th ODI match

The match with which Joe Root made a comeback to ODI cricket after nine months is also the 150th ODI match of his career. Root made his ODI debut in 2013 and has now become the seventh English cricketer to achieve this feat of playing 150 or more matches. These are the players who have played 150 or more ODIs for England.

1. Eoin Morgan (2009 to 2021) – 221 ODIs
2. Paul Collingwood (2001 to 2011) – 197 ODIs
3. James Anderson (2002 to 2015) – 194 ODIs
4. Alec Stewart (1989 to 2003) – 170 ODIs
5. Ian Bell (2004 to 2015) – 161 ODIs
6. Darren Gough (1994 to 2006) – 158 ODI matches
7. Joe Root (2013-present) – 150 ODIs*

6 Hazari also became, equals Viv Richards’ record

Apart from this, Joe Root also completed his 6000 ODI runs in this first ODI against Sri Lanka. He has equaled former West Indies great Viv Richards, who is in fourth place in terms of becoming the fastest 6 Hazari in ODI cricket. Root and Viv Richards have done this feat in 141 innings. In this case, the name of former South African legend Hashim Amla is present at the top, who completed 6000 ODI runs in the fastest 123 innings. While the second place is the name of Indian captain Virat Kohli (6000 ODI runs in 136 innings).