Root relieved with Sri Lanka ton
Joe Root's 13-month await a Test century, the longest of his job, ended on Friday with a masterful unbeaten 168 on day two of the first Check against Sri Lanka as he revealed a switch in mindset was behind his victory.
Root dominated Sri Lanka's spin attack on a turning wicket found in Galle to greatly help his aspect to 320 for four, a commanding business lead of 185 in the initially innings that he'll look to extend searching for a double-ton.
"In the last two years I have made an excessive amount of a big deal about it in my mind, which has been to my detriment," Root told reporters in giving an answer to a question about his failing to regularly move half-centuries into three statistics.
"So I tried to obtain it away of my head and just enter one-on-one contests with each bowler and opt for the right shots.
"My shot variety was good today, I were able to select the right ball a lot of the time. It is about doing that more often."
Root has made a good half-century on 67 situations in Exams, and converted 18 of those into hundreds.
He concedes at getting frustrated that he has not managed it more regularly, but now has a fourth double-ton in his sights.
"I contain been desperate to convert the 50s into big scores, however when I do get a 100 I generally get it count," Root said.
"It felt like quite a long time approaching but the aim now is to try and get this to one count and get the first innings (total) as high as we can to bat once found in this game."
Weather permitting, England glance overwhelming favourites to gain the first match of the two-Test series, but Root warned things can transform quickly in Galle.
"There has recently been prodigious turn, which means this test is merely going one way. We need to come to be ruthless and drive home the benefit," he said.
