Ben Stokes Hails Joe Root as England's Greatest Batter Ahead of Third Test Against Sri Lanka

In a lead-up to the third Test against Sri Lanka, Ben Stokes praises Joe Root as England's finest batter. Root broke Alastair Cook's record with his 34th Test century. England leads 2-0 in the series. Stokes commends Root's unselfish decision-making, teamwork, and impressive career stats.

As England prepares for the third Test match against Sri Lanka, Ben Stokes has lavished praise on Joe Root, hailing him as an 'amazing' player. Last Saturday, Root surpassed Alastair Cook to achieve the most Test centuries by an English batter, recording his 34th century against Sri Lanka.

England currently leads the Test series 2-0, following victories in the first two matches. The first game saw England claim a five-wicket win, while they triumphed by 190 runs in the second match. Speaking to Sky Sports, Stokes reflected on his decade-long career alongside Root and emphasized his admiration.

'He is an amazing player. I don't think there is much more I can say about him; I have pretty much done all the superlatives with Joe in the 10 or 12 years I have played with him,' Stokes told Sky Sports. He also praised Root's inherent unselfishness, attributing the team's successes to Root's decisions.

Root's commitment to the team was exemplary during the second Test. England set a formidable target with scores of 427 runs in the first innings, highlighted by Root's 143 and Gus Atkinson's 118. Despite Kamindu Mendis's efforts, Sri Lanka faltered with only 196 runs. England's bowlers, particularly Chris Woakes and Olly Stone, were instrumental in giving the team a lead of 231 runs.

Sri Lanka performed better in England's second innings, limiting them to 251 runs. However, Root's century and Harry Brook's resilience kept England in a strong position. The final chase of 483 runs was overwhelming for Sri Lanka despite half-centuries from Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, and Dhananjaya de Silva.

Ultimately, England secured a win by 190 runs, with Gus Atkinson's bowling earning him the 'Player of the Match' award. His performance, alongside contributions from Woakes and Stone, underscored England's dominance in the series.

(With inputs from agencies.)