England vs South Africa, 1st Test: Joe Roots’ 184 draws applause on Twitter

Joe Root was also lauded by South Africa’s Hashim Amla for his brilliant innings. (Source: Reuters)

As England took on South Africa in the first Test at Lord’s Joe Root marked his Test debut as a captain with a brilliant century. The sublime effort by Root drew a lot of applause both on and off the field. However, it was not an easy path to take England in a strong position at the end of first day’s play. England began precariously as the four wickets fell with just 76 runs on the board. However, from thereon skipper Joe Root along with efforts by Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali steadied the innings. At the end of day’s

But, from thereon skipper Joe Root along with efforts by Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali steadied the innings. Half-centuries from Stokes and Ali along with the 12th Test century by Root took England to 357/5. Root top scored with an unbeaten 184 off 227 deliveries. Accompanying him on the crease is Moeen Ali who was also unbeaten on 61. But it was Root’s innings which sent social media into a frenzy. Here are some of the reactions:

YESSSS!! A special day gets even better! @root66 reaches 💯 in his first innings as captain 🙌https://t.co/aoH97zsd4R pic.twitter.com/rKY2bayrRf

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) 6 July 2017

Great bowling this Am, SO close, but credit to Joe Root & Eng for a good fightback! Still in it, we can roll them tomorrow with the new ball

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) 6 July 2017

I’m just gonna put something controversial out there. Joe Root is pretty good at cricket.

— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) 6 July 2017

Meanwhile, here are the two squads that took on each other at the end of first days play-

Squad

England Squad:

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Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Gary Ballance, Joe Root (c), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Liam Dawson, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, James Anderson

South Africa Squad:

Heino Kuhn, Dean Elgar (c), Hashim Amla, Jean-Paul Duminy, Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock (wk), Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel.