The England Lions captain looks in good form ahead of the New Zealand match.
England youngster Joe Root scored 179 runs in the drawn match against New Zealand and the batsman looks ready for the first Test of the series.
The national selectors showed their commitment to Root when they offered the Lions captaincy to the Yorkshireman and after being named in the squad for the five-day series against the Black Caps, this fine knock could see him keep his place in the starting XI.
In the last warm-up match before the main series starts on Thursday, the 22-year-old showed why he had so much faith put in him during his debut for England in India last year.
An impressive season for Root has seen the young batsman score 646 runs so far and with two Test matches and an ODI before the end of May, it is a realistic chance that the Sheffield-born cricketer could score 1,000 runs before the month is out.
If the Yorkshire opener were to do so he would become only the sixth Englishman, and the second in 75 years, to reach the total before the end of May.
Graeme Hick was the last batsman to achieve the feat in an English season back in 1988, although current England international Nick Compton came agonisingly close last year.
Others to impress in the match against the Black Caps were Root’s Yorkshire teammate Jonny Bairstow who scored 68 and Essex batsman Ravi Bopara who made an unbeaten 42.
The first Test between England and New Zealand starts on 16 May at Lord’s and it is likely that Root will be in the batting order.
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