South Africa vs England 2017, 3rd Test, Day 4: 5 talking points

#3 Root slams ninth consecutive Test half-century

Root rarely looked perturbed in yet another easy peasy half-century

Joe Root is a prodigy and he further enhanced his reputation with a ninth consecutive half-century in Test cricket today, although he is still three more fifties away from the World record held by AB de Villiers.

The class of Joe Root can be understood from the manner in which he has effortlessly knocked down runs in the series. While most other batsmen have struggled at one time or the other against the domineering Proteas attack, Root's dismissals have mostly been brought about by his own mistakes, except probably the time Morris cleaned him up with a yorker.

In the second innings, Root once again looked in sublime touch right from the beginning of the innings. He has reeked intent everytime he has come out to bat, much akin to Quinton de Kock, and the free flowing strokes off his bat have delighted cricket fans.

He slammed yet another half-century before top edging a sweep off Maharaj while in search of quick runs.