India, July 25 -- On the sidelines of England dismantling India's listless bowling to pocket session after session ran the Joe Root show where reaching his 38th Test hundred was the precursor to a bigger achievement-surpassing Ricky Ponting to become the second highest Test scorer after Sachin Tendulkar. Jacques Kallis and Rahul Dravid had been bested in the morning.

This was also Root's ninth hundred against India at home-the most by a batter against an opponent in home Tests; and overall his 12th against India, also the most for any batter after toppling Steve Smith. He is now level with Kumar Sangakkara on 38 hundreds, with only Ponting (41), Kallis (45) and Tendulkar (51) ahead of him.

Note the names Root has joined. This is the pan...