Root explains bizarre Xbox celebration on passing 150 for England

England in New Zealand 2019/20
Root.Archer.Ashes_.PA_

England captain Joe Root has explained his bizarre Xbox controller celebration as he passed 150 on his way to a double century in the second Test against New Zealand.

Once Root had done the obligatory raise of his bat after reaching 150, he peculiarly tucked his bat under his arm and started making gestures with his hands.

He later explained: “Jofra (Archer), for some reason, thought it would be a nice thing to do, he said ‘if you get 150, you can have my Xbox controller’.

“I just thought ‘a free Xbox controller is nice’. It must be (a good one). I don’t really play Xbox much but I’ll take it.”

Root returned to form in spectacular fashion with the third double ton of his career and his first overseas, beating his previous highest score away from home of 182 against the West Indies in 2015.

READ: Joe Root enters top ten of England’s Test run scorers

No other visiting captain had gone past 200 in New Zealand before Root, who now sits 10th in England’s all-time leading Test run-scoring list.

The Yorkshireman leapfrogged Wally Hammond, who is one of only three Englishman to have more double tons than Root – Hammond has seven, with Alastair Cook on five and Len Hutton on four.

The 441 balls he faced and 636 minutes Root spent at the crease here meant this was the longest innings of his career.

Joe Root Jofra Archer

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