5 best batting knocks from England - South Africa Series

#4 Joe Root - 190, Lord's 1st Test

Playing his maiden Test as captain, Joe Root laid the perfect foundation for the Test series by producing a fine knock of 190 in the first innings of the first Test.

Coming to bat in a tricky situation, Root displayed his class and wide array of strokes to bail his team out from a position of four for 76. In the first session, he was quiet and then upped the ante in the second session.

However, he went berserk in the post-tea session and took full advantage of the old ball and tired South African bowlers. The England captain brought up his hundred off 150 balls and added the next 90 runs in just 84 balls. In that process, he ensured England piled up a mountain of runs in the first innings.

Root was outstanding in the first innings of the first Test

Finally, Morkel found the outside edge of Root's bat but by that time the damage was already been done. Root's 190 was undoubtedly one of the finest batting performances of this year and it was also special as it arrived on his captaincy debut.