ENG vs IND 2025: Joe Root pays tribute to Graham Thorpe after registering 39th Test ton | CricTracker

Joe Root acknowledged late Graham Thorpe while celebrating his 39th Test ton during Day 4 of the fifth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025. He took out a headband and worn it after reaching the milestone wearing it while pointing towards the sky. 

Root got to his ton by flicking a length ball to deep-backward square leg for a couple in the 69th over of England’s second innings, with the hosts attempting to chase 374 for the win.

The former English legend was Root’s mentor and batting coach during the formative phase of his career. The duo enjoyed a healthy bond while spending their time with each other. Notably, Thorpe advocated for Root’s inclusion in the national setup. 

Earlier in the series, Root surpassed Ricky Ponting to go to second in the leaderboard of the all-time run-scorers in the history of Test cricket. With this 39th century, he eclipsed Kumar Sangakkara’s tally of 38 to attain another significant feat.