England batsman Joe Root also shone in the first Test against Pakistan in Multan, celebrating the sixth double century of his career. Root, who ended Day 3 unbeaten on 176, reached his double hundred in the first session of Day 4 as England destroyed Pakistan’s first innings total of 556 with relative ease. With his sixth double century, Root surpassed the tally of the great English champion Alastair Cook, who has five double centuries. Root only needs to chase one more player to become the Englishman with the most Test double hundreds.

Root now trails only Wally Hammond, who recorded seven double centuries between 1927 and 1947.

With six double hundreds, Root is also on a par with a host of cricketing legends with the same number. Root is now level with Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Virender Sehwag, Kane Williamson, Younis Khan, Javed Miandad and Marvan Atapattu and has recorded six double centuries in Test cricket.

Alongside Root, batting partner Harry Brook also scored a sensational double century with a strike rate of over 80. Root and Brook’s partnership reached more than 409 at lunch on the fourth day, just two short of the highest ever Test partnership wicket by any English pair. The duo also became the third English pair to form multiple 300-plus partnerships in Test cricket.

It is also the highest partnership ever achieved in a Test match in Multan, surpassing the record of 336 set by Sehwag and Tendulkar in 2004 when Sehwag had scored a triple century for the first time.

If Root or Brook reach 300, they would be the first English batters to reach a Test triple hundred since Graham Gooch in 1990.

Root also became the first batsman ever to score a double hundred in India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.