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Former England skipper and Test cricket legend Alastair Cook hailed Joe Root's batting genius after his record-breaking century against Sri Lanka at Lord's. The 33-year-old scored his 34th Test ton, breaking Cook's record for most Test centuries for England. 

Alastair Cook, one of England's best-ever red-ball players, was present in the media box at Lord's while Joe Root scripted history for his country. With his two centuries in the ongoing Test, Root surpassed Cook's record of 33 centuries to become the English player with the most tons in Test matches. 

MORE: List of players with most fifties in Test cricket: Joe Root nears Tendulkar's record

How did Alastair Cook react to Joe Root's 34th Test century?

Alastair Cook lauded Joe Root's performance as he scored his 34th Test century of his career. While many consider Root as the finest Test batter of today, hearing the plaudits from your former captain would mean different, wouldn't it? Cook captained Root in his first 53 Tests as an England player. 

"He is quite simply England's greatest, and it's absolutely right that he should have this record, on his own. Take it in, Joe. We are watching a genius," Cook said on BBC's Test Match Special commentary. 

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Cook recalled about he saying on air about Joe Root's inevitable century on Day 3 of the ongoing Test match at Lord's. 

He added,

"I don't think there's a batsman that I can remember watching play [who shares] the sense of inevitability about scoring runs that Joe Root gives off. I called it when he was on about 6 today, that he was going to get 100. I know he's in great form, but it's just a pleasure to watch a master, a craftsman at work."

How many runs does Joe Root need to overtake Alastair Cook's Test runs tally?

Joe Root needs 95 runs to surpass Alastair Cook's career runs in the red-ball format. The former England international was ecstatic on commenting how it would only take one game for Root to achieve that feat, too. 

Root scoring another 96 runs, would see him become the highest run-getter for England, overtaking Cook.

MORE: Can Joe Root break Sachin Tendulkar's Test run tally?

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Mohit Khakhar Photo

Mohit Khakhar is a content producer for The Sporting News India.