Monday 25 July 2016 00:14, UK
Former Pakistan international Ramiz Raja has described Joe Root's batting display in the second Test at Old Trafford as a masterclass.
Root joined England skipper Alastair Cook early on day one against Pakistan and remained in the middle for almost 10-and-a-half hours as he notched a Test-best 254 - the highest Test score at Old Trafford for 52 years.
The Yorkshireman hit 27 boundaries in his 406-ball innings before Mohammad Hafeez took an excellent diving catch to dismiss him shortly before England declared on 589-8.
"It was precision-driven [from Root]. There was a lot of method and his footwork was great," Raja told Sky Sports.
"I enjoyed the way he used the crease and read the length properly. It was not about playing forward on this pitch but hitting the ball crisply off the back foot.
"There was some great shot-making and it was a great innings. It really was a masterclass from him."
Root has excelled for England in all formats of the game and Raja is impressed by the 25-year-old's determination to cement himself as a Test great.
"He wants to be recognised as a great Test match player, which is rare in my part of the world in Asia where they are all gearing up to play T20 cricket to become overnight heroes," Raja added.
"Here's a guy who is interested in playing five-day cricket and plays it with the right heart, with great pace and great tempo, which can be difficult.
"To rein yourself in like he did and make sure you remain out there for the larger cause of the team was something absolutely magnificent from him."
Root was pushed up the order to number three ahead of the Test series with Pakistan and former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding expects 'England's best batsman' to remain there.
He said: "I've always thought the best player in your team bats at number three, the one with very good technique but also one that can score freely because he can then adapt to whatever happens.
"If he gets in there at 0-1 or 100-1 he knows exactly what he needs to do and is capable of doing either. I think Joe Root is the best batsman in this team. He should always be at three and I don't think he will be moving now."
Live coverage of day three gets underway at 10.30am on Sunday on Sky Sports 2.
