Looking at the list again - the mad thing is. When Cook equalled the record, KP moved to 21. Obviously KP is a good few years older than Cook but there was 8 months between their debuts so you could have foreseen them swapping the record back and forth for a few years to come, and yet KP scored just one more while Cook added another 13.
They both have 4-year peaks compared to 5, or you end up including a year of mid-career meh for Root or a year of being banned for Smith.
He didn't have any in the last 25-odd Tests he played if I recall. Even then Root's been on some stat-correcting tear these last few years. Seemed chronically incapable of converting for so long.
Top of the list is Hayden with 27.
I just looked it up and he didn't get any in his last 40 innings, it was a very anticlimactic ending to a great career. Root's conversion rate since turning 30 (18 tons and15 fifties) has been very impressive considering his struggles before that.
Most batters would be very happy hitting 27 century's in their career but to get 27 after turning 30 is pretty spectacular.
I think there is a very subtle technique change, I think he makes use of his wrist more and plays a bit earlier than he used to, but mostly his mental approach has changed a lot.
From memory the most noticeable change is his interception point vs pace bowling being far closer to the ball because he's using his feet to the pacers more and playing them on the front foot more often. No idea if that's actually a causative mechanism but it's a noticeable difference between pre and post covid root.
I think prioritising Test cricket. Doesn't play as many white ball matches as he used to and perhaps that has ironed out his game.
Not touring Australia
Two changes that are noticable are his lower backlift and and a relatively crouching stance.
Smith a league of his own, hope Root has a monster ashes down under and Smith has had in England.
Nah I would love if England’s best modern batsman and bowler both still sucked in Australia.
oh piss off.
umadbro?