‘One of the greatest': England make history in record thrashing

England were hopeless in Australia last summer but in just a matter of months, the side looks to be reinventing Test cricket.

Joe Root was enormous. Photo by Geoff Caddick / AFP

England have broken all sorts of records in a stunning seven wicket thrashing of India.

Despite giving up a 132-run lead in the first innings and needing 378 to level the delayed five Test series 2-all, England did it in a canter as Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow smashed centuries.

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Root slammed 142 not out off 173 balls and Jonny Bairstow 114 not out off 145 balls as England raced to the total in 76.4 overs.

It was utter carnage for the India who had no answers as England plundered the 119 runs in 19.4 overs.

The chase is also the biggest successful chase in England history, eclipsing the 359 the side chased down at Headingley against Australia in 2019.

But England have come a long way in a very short period of time after getting pounded 4-0 in Australia and 1-0 in the West Indies.

It led to Root standing down as captain with Ben Stokes taking over as Test skipper.

Former England head coach Chris Silverwood was also moved on as coach, with former New Zealand star Brendan McCullum taking over.

Since then, England have thrashed New Zealand 3-0, and now stunned India with another huge fourth innings chase in the fifth Test of the postponed series.

Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow are in some form. Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images

After standing down as captain, Root has three centuries in his past four games, as well as an 86 not out, and completed the India series with 737 runs at an average of 105.28 including four centuries.

He’s the first Englishman since Denis Compton in 1947 against South Africa to score four centuries in a single series.

Root said there had been a change in mindset since the end of his captaincy.

“Throughout the whole summer since that first game, we’ve said ‘whatever they get, we’ll chase it down’,” Root said.

“Ben said to us in the group before the toss said ‘we’re not going to bat first, we’re going to chase’. It was that mentality and how we’re going about things at the minute.”

Captain Ben Stokes also summed up the ehtos of the side who will make plenty of sides nervous.

“Sometimes, teams will be better than us but no one will be braver than us — to quote Jack Leach,” Stokes said.

“We know that we want to give new life to Test cricket, and the support that we’ve had has been incredible. We are bringing a new set of fans to Test cricket. We want to leave a mark.”

Stokes also said that the side had come a long way in a very short time.

“It’s down to the players, making my job easier,” Stokes said. “When you have clarity like we do in the dressing room it makes totals like that easier. 378 five weeks ago would have been scary, but it’s all good.”

These blokes may have chased 550. Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images

He added: “There was a bit of me that almost wanted them to get 450 [ahead] to see what we did.”

The reaction to the phenomenal victory was swift.

Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar said: “Special win by England to level the series.

Joe Root & Jonny Bairstow have been in sublime form and made batting look very easy.

Congratulations to England on a convincing victory.”

The Athletic’s James Pearce wrote: “Remarkable effort from Root and Bairstow. Some transformation”.

Reporter Rifat Jawaid added: “Simply brilliant. We witnessed history being created at Edgbaston by legend Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow. They will be responsible for Test match being reduced to 4 days in future.”

Radio broadcaster Toby Tarrant posted: “The turnaround in Jonny Bairstow is just ridiculous. Joe Root is the greatest English player of all time and Jimmy Anderson is still world-class.

Special mention to Lees and Crawley who set this ridiculous run chase up as well.

I LOVE BAZ-BALL”.

One of the greatest Test victories in England's history.

Root & Bairstow 🔥

— Dr Rakib Ehsan (@rakibehsan) July 5, 2022

Luckily for Australia the next Ashes is still a year away — this England side is scary.