Joe Root overtakes Ponting with 150 as England seize control against India at Old Trafford

Joe Root achieved his 38th Test century with 150 runs against India during the third day at Old Trafford, elevating him to second place among cricket's all-time Test run scorers. The Yorkshire batsman surpassed Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid, and Ricky Ponting through precise strokeplay and composed batting throughout his innings. England accumulated 544 runs for seven wickets, establishing a commanding 186-run advantage over India's first-innings total of 358. Captain Ben Stokes contributed an unbeaten 77 runs despite experiencing cramp issues that temporarily forced him to retire hurt before returning to the crease. The Indian bowling attack struggled with line and length, allowing England to dominate proceedings as Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja claimed multiple wickets but failed to prevent the substantial deficit.